Luke 3 - 4

This Day This Scripture Is Fulfilled

Note: Written Sunday for Monday's reading.


Luke chapter 3 contains the genealogy of Jesus tracing His lineage through Mary (daughter of Heli) all the way back to Adam the Son of God.  This genealogy is different from the one in Matthew in that Matthew starts with Abraham and goes forward to Jesus through Joseph the son of Jacob.  There is no discrepancy between Matthew 1:16 "Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary" and Luke 3:23 "Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli."  Joseph was the son of Jacob and the son-in-law of Heli and since this lineage traces through Mary, Heli is noted.

The lineage back to Adam is consistent with Luke's presentation of Jesus as a man who was Divine. The lineage connects Jesus, the Son of God, to Adam, the first man, who also was the son of God. It is interesting to note that Cain is not mentioned in the lineage.  No where is Cain ever identified as a son of Adam or God - because he was not (see my commentary on Genesis 4 in the archives).

After returning from 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness, Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee in the village of Nazareth in the Synagogue on the Sabbath.  He reads from Isaiah 61:1-2a, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that eh blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come." (other translations of 2a state "to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.")  He does not complete verse 2 which states, "and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies."  This omission was on purpose since in verse 21, of Luke 4, Jesus states, "This Scripture you have heard has been fulfilled this very day!" Jesus' first advent brought in the "day of grace (favor)" and thus was fulfilled by Him on Earth.  The second half of Isaiah 61:2 is fulfilled during His second advent when vengeance is loosed on the unbelieving world during the Tribulation.

Since Jesus' first advent was to fulfill the Law and bring in Grace, this is just one of many scriptures His life and ministry fulfilled. As we progress through the Gospels, note the cross references in your Bible on the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus.  A full examination of all of these is beyond the scope of this blog, but is left to the reader to pursue independently.  I recommend a Scofield Reference Edition or a Thompson Chain Reference in addition to the New Living Translation Study Bible (the one I am presently reading) for a complete and exhaustive cross reference of Old Testament prophecy and fulfillment.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.