Luk 3 outline:
Luk 3:1-14, John the Baptist began to preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins
Luk 3:15-18, John foretold the coming of Messiah after him, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit
Luk 3:19-20, John rebuked the sin of Herod the tetrarch, and Herod shut John up in prison
Luk 3:21-22, John baptized Jesus, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form of a dove
Luk 3:23-38, The genealogy of Jesus traced back to Adam, the son of God
Luk 3:1-38 chiastic structure:
1a) Luk 3:1-2, John the son of Zacharias began his ministry when the word of God came to him in the wilderness;
1b) Luk 3:3-18, John baptized the multitudes who came out to him, a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
1a) Luk 3:3-6, John preached repentance, as it is written in Isaiah: prepare the way of the Lord;
1b.1) Luk 3:7a, Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him,
1b.2) Luk 3:7b-9, Bear fruit worthy of repentance/ every tree which does not bear good fruit is thrown into the fire;
central axis) Luk 3:10-14, They asked him, “What shall we do?” / he answered: do what is right (3 times);
2b.1) Luk 3:15-16a, The multitude wondered whether John was the Messiah/ he answered, “I indeed baptize you with water;”
2b.2) Luk 3:16b-17, But He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit + fire/ gather the wheat, burn the chaff with unquenchable fire;
2a) Luk 3:18, And with many other exhortations he preached to the people;
central axis) Luk 3:19-20, “But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison;”
2b) Luk 3:21-22, John baptized Jesus who came out to him/ the Holy Spirit descended on Him + the voice from heaven;
2a) Luk 3:23-38, Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age + His genealogy.
Why are the few verses about Herod the tetrarch sit in the place of the central axis? This is Herod, who spent a fortune to greatly beautify the second Temple. The Scripture is making the point, that what matters is bearing fruit worthy of repentance – that fruit is an indicator of the true state of the heart. Anyone can give money to anything to provide themselves with a righteous-looking veneer, but the evils (or righteousness) one does is where the rubber meets the road.
I just want to add: how does someone receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire? Just ask Him who is your baptizer, Messiah Yeshua, to baptize you. He will. ♥
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