Luke 3:7-18 - The Good News Divides

Introduction

What comes to mind when you think about the gospel? What comes to mind when you think about the purpose of the gospel?

The good news about Jesus is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes! It is the message that forgiveness has been freely offered to us in Jesus Christ. But notice the division even within the statement from Romans 1:16 - it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

We are going to see today both in the preparatory ministry of John the Baptist and the prophecy fulfilling ministry of Jesus Himself, that Jesus and the good news about Him divides. This has been true ever since the Fall of Man and the promise of a Redeemer in Genesis 3. And it still rings true for us today.

Interpretive Notes

Before we read the passage, we need to remember that John the Baptist was serving in the function of an Old Testament prophet, pointing forward to Jesus. He was still ministering under the Old Covenant. Nevertheless, we will see principles in his teaching that are applicable to us who now live in the New Covenant era after Christ’s death and resurrection.

We also have the benefit of having received the fulfillment of what John prophesied. We do not look forward to the first coming of Christ and the baptism with the Holy Spirit, but we do look forward to the second coming of Christ and the final judgment.

Luke 3:7-18

Luke 3:1-6 introduces us to John in his ministry of “proclaiming a baptism for the forgiveness of sins,” showing that he fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy about the one in the wilderness who would prepare the way of the Lord.

Luke 3:7-9

Why would John’s address of the Jews as “brood of vipers” be shocking? What does he mean by “brood of vipers?”

Calling them sons of snakes pointed to the poisonous, destructive nature of the snake. The snake was the symbol of God’s enemies at different times in the Old Testament and is one identification of Satan in Scripture. One commentator said that “rather than calling his Jewish audience the chosen people, he is calling them children of the devil.”

This would have been shocking because they considered themselves children of Abraham! In John 8, the Jews claim Abraham as their father, but Jesus tells them they are of their father the devil.

The point is that regardless of what’s ethnic status, all stand under God’s wrath and stand in need of repentance. Even those at this time who were Abraham’s children needed to “flee the wrath to come.”

This image of fleeing the wrath to come connects well with a brood of vipers. “When brush fires surface in the desert, snakes often come out of the ground to flee.” The crowd coming to him are like snakes fleeing a brush fire.

John’s question, like his shocking identification of the crowds, seems intended to grab the attention of his hearers. They need to understand and believe that wrath is coming and that repentance truly is required.

According to vs. 8-9, what is required for those who desire to flee God’s wrath?

Repentance that bears fruit. The ritual of baptism itself does not suffice! The claim of having repented from sins does not suffice. The fruit of repentance is necessary.

Remember, that this is still prior to Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. “Submitting to baptism from John is a commitment before God to change one’s life, while awaiting the approach of God’s salvation.”

What potential reason for salvation did John undermine in vs. 8 for the Jews?

Children of Abraham. The point is that, on an individual level, being related to Abraham didn’t matter for one’s position before God.

We see this in the Old Testament. The majority within Israel fell into idolatry and sin, while a remnant remained faithful. God never failed in His promise to Israel because He never promised to save every individual within Israel. The Jews could not rely on their heritage to save them.

What are some potentially invalid reasons that people might give for their hope of being saved?

I was baptized. I go to church. All of my family is Christian. I am a good person. My good outweighs my bad. I am religious.

None of these reasons stands up before God. When we talk to people about the gospel, if these are the reasons they give for their salvation, we need to point them to faith in Jesus and repentance from sins that bears fruit.

The mention about God being able to raise up children for Abraham from stones “attributes adoption into God’s family to the work of God and not to the natural rights of having a certain genealogy.”

In vs. 9, John offers a vivid image to demonstrate the necessity of repentance: “even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.”

What is the point of this image?

Judgment is imminent. For those who have not repented, they are simply awaiting the judgment of God because they stand under His wrath.

We see the division here in these verses between the trees that bear fruit and don’t. Those who repent and bear the fruit of repentance are not in danger of being chopped down. Those who do not respond in fruit-bearing repentance are about to be destroyed.

This good news of salvation from God’s wrath divides between those who receive His salvation and those who reject His salvation and remain under His wrath.

Luke 3:10-14

What do we see here in these verses following John’s message about the fruit of repentance?

The crowd responds positively. Much like we will see after Peter’s message at Pentecost, the crowd hears and wonders “what then shall we do?” We believe that you are telling the truth. We believe that we need to repent and bear fruit. So what does that look like?

The people understood from John’s teaching that the baptism was not just a ritual. “The washing pictures what happens in the heart.” And what happens in the heart affects the rest of one’s life!

What is consistent with John’s reply to all three of these groups?

The fruit of repentance is other-centered and involves caring well for others and treating them justly.

First, how does John respond to the crowds?

Give of your excess to those who are in need. The fruit of repentance involves caring about the needs of other people.

Second, how does John respond to the tax collectors?

He does not say to quit their job. It’s okay to work for the IRS.

Work justly. As you work in your legitimate profession, do so with integrity and honesty. Don’t take more than what you are authorized to take. “fair business practices.”

“The penitent one lives differently, manifesting an appropriate response in his or her vocation.”

Third, how does John respond to the soldiers?

They are not to abuse their authority for their own financial gain. They are to be content with what they make.

One commentator summarized John’s response to the three groups this way: “John’s response to the three groups says to be compassionate, loving, and fair to fellow human beings and not to take advantage of another or leave another in destitution for one’s own gain. Rather, one is to be content with what one has. Look to meet needs, rather than to aggravate them.”

The good news of the forgiveness that is found in Jesus divides between those who will repent and those who will not. For those who repent, their lives are to demonstrate the fruit of repentance, providing evidence of a changed life in light of their response to Jesus.

Luke 3:15-18

The ministry of John the Baptist caused some people to question whether or not he was the promised Messiah. There was expectation of the fulfillment of the promises of the Old Testament, and John’s ministry indicated that God was working among His people to bring about salvation.

How does John respond to their inquiry?

He elevates Jesus as:

Stronger than John (power to accomplish the will of God)

Greater than John (John was not worthy to untie his sandal)

Greater baptism than John (Spirit and fire)

Unlike John, Jesus has the power to bring about salvation in the life of another person. John’s ministry was preparatory for the prophecy fulfilling ministry of Jesus.

The comment about the strap of the sandal is culturally informed. For those who wore sandals in that culture, rather than going barefoot, they would have a servant who would untie their sandal strap when they arrived home. It was such a lowly position, that Hebrew slaves were not permitted to do it. John is saying that Jesus is so much greater than he that he is not even worthy to do the lowliest most menial of tasks.

Finally, the baptism of Jesus is greater.

What do you think the baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire indicates?

The Spirit was promised throughout the Old Testament as a sign of God’s coming salvation and work in His people. Ezekiel 36:27.

But the Spirit of God not only brings salvation, but also judgment. Isaiah 4:4-5. “a purging of peoples so that some my dwell in God’s presence.”

“So the offer of the Spirit divides people into two camps. One baptism offered to the world, but it has two consequences. Which consequence a person experiences depends on the individual’s decision in regard to the baptism.”

Acts 2:38-40 shows the salvation that is brought in responding positively and receiving the Spirit.

We can see the accuracy of this interpretation when we look at Lk. 3:17.

Jesus comes with a winnowing fork to separate the two groups: those who respond and those who do not. The “winnowing fork was a wooden forklike shovel used to life the grain in the air, so that the wind or a winnowing fan could separate the wheat from the chaff. The heavier usable grain would fall directly down onto the threshing floor, while the lighter, useless chaff would be blown away.”

What is the significance of the description of the fire as “unquenchable?”

The judgment is final, unending, and inescapable. This purging work of Christ through the baptism of the Spirit will separate some unto forgiveness and eternal life, while others will be separated unto condemnation and eternal judgment.

John himself could not accomplish this work. His ministry rather pointed to the one who would.

Luke 3:18 says that John preached the good news to the people.

Is this mention of good news surprising to you after all the talk of judgment?

This is where we see that the good news divides.