One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus Himself was baptized. As He was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy. ” Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His public ministry.
Luke 3:21-23
Luke’s Genealogy: He was (so it was thought) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, ~ . . . ~ Adam was the son of God.
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil for forty days.
Luke 4:1-2
Jesus didn’t need to be baptized since He is the sinless Son of God, but in order to fulfill all righteousness He associates with everyone else. (See Bible Gem 771) During His baptism God the Father pronounces this is His beloved Son, in Whom He is well pleased. The Holy Spirit descends on Him and he receives the ordination of ministry or the seal of the Godhead on His ministry. Luke is the one who writes the most human Gospel. It is at this point that he places his genealogy. Who is this one who is being baptized. He is both fully man and fully God. In order that is no doubt as to his humanity Luke gives His line of descent but notice where he descends from ultimately. Luke places this genealogy at the beginning of Jesus ministry. But he traces Jesus lineage beyond Adam to God. He doesn’t stop at Adam (human) but goes back to God (divine). But Luke makes it clear this not another in the “demi-god” tradition. This One is human through and through but from God. He could also be hinting at what Paul does in 1 Cor 15 and or Romans 5 related to the First Adam and the Second Adam. This becomes Jesus’ CV for His future ministry.
Luke calls This One, “Jesus” because He will save His people from their sins. Matthew calls Him Jesus the Messiah. This is the long awaited Messiah. Remember Matthew wrote a Jewish gospel. Luke is writing a gospel for all but making it clear to us this indeed is the Saviour of the World. This is a theme Luke will outline through out his Gospel. Jesus is the Son of Man and Son of God who came to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10. Jesus name is linked to the meaning of salvation. You are to name Him Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.
Notice what happens next. After presenting His genealogy, Luke continues with more preparation for Jesus in terms of His future ministry. Jesus returned from the Jordan and His baptism and then was led straight into the wilderness. Yes the temptations are a part of Jesus preparation. Notice that it was the Holy Spirit who led Him into the wilderness. Our next task is to look at what Luke has to say about this. As I told you yesterday, take note of all the details. Make all the comparisons you can. Take note of what Matthew and Luke include together and take note what is unique to each one. In that way you will come to understand Luke’s purpose more clearly. Studying one of the synoptic gospels give us a whole new line of comparison.
With that in mind I have included Matthew’s account alongside Luke’s. See what you can find out from such a comparison. I guarantee you will see things you have not seen before if you do that.
Luke’s Account:
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry. Then the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.'”
Then the devil took Him up and revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give You the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to You if You will worship me.” Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only Him.'”
Then the devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If You are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order His angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.'”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.'”
When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left Him until the next opportunity came.
Luke 4:1-13
Matthew’s Account:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights He fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told Him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
Then the devil took Him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If You are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order His angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.'”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.'”
Next the devil took Him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to You,” he said, “if You will kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only Him.'” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-11
An easier way to compare these two accounts is to use the Harmony function in E-Sword. Click your cursor in the temptation section of the text of Luke in E-Sword and then go to the top menu bar and choose > Bible > Harmony. Now you see all Gospel accounts connected to the Temptation of Jesus laid out before you in parallel columns.
See what you find. Have fun. But not too much fun; don’t be tempted.
Temptation rarely comes during working hours. It’s during leisure time most men are made or marred! Ask King David?
Rick Godwin
In Order To Bring God Pleasure We Must Refuse The Temptation To Flirt With The Forbidden.
Robb Thompson
Every trial is like milk, it has a shelf life! Satan can’t maintain an attack.
David Crank