Chapter 3:1-20 John the Baptist Preaches

3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

The fifteenth year of Tiberius - Reckoning from the time when Angustus made him his colleague in the empire. Herod being tetrarch of Galilee - The dominions of Herod the Great were, after his death, divided into four parts or tetrarchies. 

This Herod his son was tetrarch of Galilee, reigning over that fourth part of his dominions. 

His brother reigned over two other fourth parts, the region of Iturea, and that of Trachonitis (that tract of land on the other side Jordan, which had formerly belonged to the tribe of Manasseh.) And Lysanias (probably descended from a prince of that name, who was some years before governor of that country) was tetrarch of the remaining part of Abilene, which was a large city of Syria, whose territories reached to Lebanon and Damascus, and contained great numbers of Jews.

3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Annas being high priest, and Caiaphas - There could be but one high priest, strictly speaking, at once. Annas was the high priest at that time, and Caiaphas his sagan or deputy.

3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

Preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins - this was the work and office of John, as signified by Elijah, in Malachi 4:5.

3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Q: Does not John the Baptist speak like Elijah? Here are no honeyed phrases to delight the popular ear. The prophet of the wilderness talks like one who is all on fire with zeal for God, and indignation against evil.

3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
Every valley shall be filled - ...  of preparing and clearing the way, for the coming of the Messiah, done by the ministry of John;

3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God - By the salvation of God is meant, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of God's appointing and sending.

3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? - It seems their parents before them were vipers, and they their offspring were like them, in hypocrisy and malice. 

The viper appears very beautiful outwardly, but is full of poison.

3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Say not within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father - That is, trust not in your being members of the visible Church, or in any external privileges whatsoever: for God now requires a change of heart; and that without delay.

3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees - Not only to Jesse's family, which as a root in a dry ground, and to Jerusalem, the metropolis of the nation; but to the root of the vain boasting of every Jew; their descent from Abraham, the covenant made with him, their ecclesiastical state and civil polity, all which would quickly be at an end: the Romans were now among them, the axe in God's hand; by means of whom, utter ruin and destruction would be brought upon their nation, city, and temple:
every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire; - Temporal ruin and destruction shall come upon him; he shall not escape divine vengeance here.

3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

What shall we do then? - The preaching of the Baptist had been accompanied with an uncommon effusion of that Spirit which convinces of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The people who heard him now earnestly begin to inquire what they must do to be saved?

3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
He that hath two coats, etc. - He first teaches the great mass of the people their duty to each other. They were uncharitable and oppressive, and he taught them not to expect any mercy from the hand of God, while they acted towards others in opposition to its dictates. If men be unkind and uncharitable towards each other, how can they expect the mercy of the Lord to be extended towards themselves?

3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

Then came also publicans - He next instructs the tax-gatherers in the proper discharge of their duty: though it was an office detested by the Jews at large, yet the Baptist does not condemn it. It is only the abuse of it that he speaks against. If taxes be necessary for the support of a state, there must be collectors of them; and the collector, if he properly discharge his duty, is not only a useful, but also a respectable officer. But it seems the Jewish tax-gatherers exacted much more from the people than government authorized them to do.

3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
Exact no more than that which is appointed you; - by the government:

3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Neither accuse any falsely - Or, on a frivolous pretense - μηδε συκοφαντησητε, be not sycophants.

Be content with your wages - Οψωνιοις. The word signifies not only the money which was allotted to a Roman soldier, which was two oboli, about three halfpence per day, but also the necessary supply of wheat, barley, etc.

3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
And as the people were in expectation, of the coming of the Messiah; Daniel's seventy weeks being now accomplished, the sceptre being departed from Judah, and the Romans having the government in their hands, from whom they hoped for a deliverance by Christ;

3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
I indeed baptize you with water; - Matthew adds "unto repentance"; upon the profession of repentance: the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; - neither to bear His shoes after Him.

3:17 Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.
He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire; - referring, either to the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, to be bestowed on the disciples on the day of Pentecost, of which the cloven tongues, like as of fire, which appeared unto them, and sat upon them, were the symbols; which was an instance of the great power and grace of Christ, and of his exaltation at the Father's right hand. 

Or rather, this phrase is expressive of the awful judgments which should be inflicted by him on the Jewish nation; when he by His Spirit should "reprove" them for the sin of rejecting Him.

3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

He speaks with wonderful plainness and courage, and therein proves himself to be a true herald of his Master.

3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
But Herod the tetrarch being reproved by him - By John: for Herodias his brother Philip's wife; for taking her to wife, whilst his brother Philip was living. The account, which the Jewish chronologer (x) gives, of this Herod, and of this fact of his, and John's reproving him for it, and the consequence of it, perfectly agrees with this of the evangelist.

3:20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. 

Added yet this above all - This sin to all other sins, and which was of a more flagitious nature; and attended with more aggravating circumstances, especially in the issue of it.

Chapter 2:41-52 Visit to Jerusalem

2:41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year - Joseph was obliged to go three times a year, as were all the males in Israel, at the feasts of the Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, Deuteronomy 16:16.

2:42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

And when He was twelve years old - Not that he was now, , "a son of the commandment", to use the Jewish phrase; or now came under the yoke of the law; or was obliged to the duties of adult church membership.

2:43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it.

The child Jesus - Luke describes in order Jesus the fruit of the womb, an infant, a little child, a child here, and afterward a man. 

So our Lord passed through and sanctified every stage of human life. Old age only did not become Him.

and Joseph, and His mother, knew not of it; of His intention to tarry longer, nor of his design in so doing: He did not ask leave of them, since His stay was about an affair of His heavenly Father's; and therefore this action of Christ is not to be drawn into an example, or precedent for children, to act without consulting, or asking leave of their parents.

2:44 But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

Supposing Him to have been in the company - As the men and women usually travelled in distinct companies.

2:45 And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

And when they found Him not - In the company that came from Jerusalem with them, nor among any of their relations and friends, with whom they supposed he was:
they turned back again to Jerusalem, that is, the next morning, for it can hardly be thought they would set out that night, after they had travelled all day, without taking some repose:
seeking Him; at Jerusalem, in the streets and broad places of it; a figure of the church and ordinances, where souls look for, and inquire after their beloved, when they have lost Him.

2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

After three days - The first day was spent in their journey, the second, in their return to Jerusalem: and the third, in searching for Him there: they found Him in the temple; His Father's house, the house of God.
Sitting in the midst of the doctors - The rabbins, who were explaining the law and the ceremonies of the Jewish religion to their disciples.
Asking them questions - Not as a scholar asks his teacher, to be informed; but as a teacher, who proposes questions to his scholars in order to take an occasion to instruct them.

2:47 And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

And all that heard Him were astonished - All in the sanhedrim, both the doctors, and their disciples, were amazed,
at His understanding; in the knowledge of the law, and of the Scriptures.

2:48 And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.

And when they saw Him they were amazed - That is, when Joseph and Mary saw Him amidst the doctors, they were astonished that He was admitted among them, and had in such esteem by them:
Why hast Thou thus dealt with us? - It certainly was not His fault, but theirs. Men are very apt to lay on others the blame of their own misconduct.

2:49 And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?

Why sought ye Me? - He does not blame them for losing, but for thinking it needful to seek Him: and intimates, that He could not be lost, nor found any where, but doing the will of a higher parent.

wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? - The business that Christ came about was to preach the Gospel.

2:50 And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them.

And they understood not the saying - What He meant by His Father's house, or his Father's business, and the necessity of his being there, and about that: which He spake unto them; at that time, and as above related. 

*It is observable that Joseph is not mentioned after this time; whence it is probable, he did not live long after.

2:51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

Was subject unto them - Behaved towards them with all dutiful submission. but His mother kept all these sayings, or things; in her heart; that is, in her memory.

2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. 

Jesus increased in wisdom - As to His human nature, and in favor with God - In proportion to that increase.