Bible Commentaries
Luke 3

The Gospels ComparedGospels Compared

Verses 2-18

John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus
Matthew 3:1-12Mark 1:2-8Luke 3:2-18
Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John in son of Zacharias
preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. in the wilderness.
Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Matthew 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.Luke 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. Luke 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; Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Matthew 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Mark 1:6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
Matthew 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem,
Matthew 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, Luke 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?
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance,
Matthew 3:9 And think 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. 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.
Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Luke 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.
Luke 3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? Luke 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. Luke 3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? Luke 3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. Luke 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. Luke 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;
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water:Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water;
but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:Mark 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.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:Mark 1:8 but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Matthew 3:12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.Luke 3:17 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Luke 3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

Verses 21-22

Jesus’ Baptism
Matthew 3:13-17Mark 1:9-11Luke 3:21-22
Matthew 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying,
Matthew 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him,Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, the heaven was opened,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him,
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.Mark 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Verses 23-38

The genealogy of Jesus
Luke 3:23-38Matthew 1:1-17
Luke’s Genealogy starts at Jesus and goes in reverse to Adam. Matthew’s Genealogy starts at Abraham and goes to Jesus. When the genealogies arrive at David, they split with David’s sons: Nathan (Luke / Mary’s side) and Solomon (Matthew / Joseph’s side).
Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David [are] fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon [are] fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ [are] fourteen generations.
Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli,Jesus Joseph HeliJesus JosephMatthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Luke 3:24 Which was [the son] of Matthat, which was [the son] of Levi, which was [the son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Janna, which was [the son] of Joseph,Matthat Levi Melchi Janna JosephJacob Matthan EleazarMatthew 1:15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
Luke 3:25 Which was [the son] of Mattathias, which was [the son] of Amos, which was [the son] of Naum, which was [the son] of Esli, which was [the son] of Nagge,Mattathias Amos Naum Esli NaggeEliud Achim Sadoc AzorMatthew 1:14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
Luke 3:26 Which was [the son] of Maath, which was [the son] of Mattathias, which was [the son] of Semei, which was [the son] of Joseph, which was [the son] of Juda,Maath Mattathias Semei Joseph JudaEliakim AbiudMatthew 1:13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
Luke 3:27 Which was [the son] of Joanna, which was [the son] of Rhesa, which was [the son] of Zorobabel, which was [the son] of Salathiel, which was [the son] of Neri,Joanna Rhesa
Zorobabel Salathiel NeriZorobabel SalathielMatthew 1:12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
Luke 3:28 Which was [the son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Addi, which was [the son] of Cosam, which was [the son] of Elmodam, which was [the son] of Er,Melchi Addi Cosam Elmodam ErJechonias JosiasMatthew 1:11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
Luke 3:29 Which was [the son] of Jose, which was [the son] of Eliezer, which was [the son] of Jorim, which was [the son] of Matthat, which was [the son] of Levi,Jose Eliezer Jorim Matthat LeviAmon Manasses EzekiasMatthew 1:10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
Achaz Joatham OziasMatthew 1:9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
Luke 3:30 Which was [the son] of Simeon, which was [the son] of Juda, which was [the son] of Joseph, which was [the son] of Jonan, which was [the son] of Eliakim,Simeon Juda Joseph Jonan EliakimJoram Josaphat AsaMatthew 1:8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
Luke 3:31 Which was [the son] of Melea, which was [the son] of Menan, which was [the son] of Mattatha, which was [the son] of Nathan, which was [the son] of David,Melea Menan MattathaAbia RoboamMatthew 1:7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
Nathan The ancestor of Mary, the mother of JesusSolomon The ancestor of Joseph, the “as was supposed” father of JesusMatthew 1:6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her [that had been the wife] of Urias;
DavidDavid
Luke 3:32 Which was [the son] of Jesse, which was [the son] of Obed, which was [the son] of Booz, which was [the son] of Salmon, which was [the son] of Naasson,JesseJesse
Obed Booz SalmonObed Booz SalmonMatthew 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
NaassonNaassonMatthew 1:4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
Luke 3:33 Which was [the son] of Aminadab, which was [the son] of Aram, which was [the son] of Esrom, which was [the son] of Phares, which was [the son] of Juda,Aminadab AramAminadab Aram
Esrom Phares JudaEsrom Phares JudasMatthew 1:3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
Luke 3:34 Which was [the son] of Jacob, which was [the son] of Isaac, which was [the son] of Abraham, which was [the son] of Thara, which was [the son] of Nachor,Jacob Isaac AbrahamJacob Isaac AbrahamMatthew 1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Thara NachorMatthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Luke 3:35 Which was [the son] of Saruch, which was [the son] of Ragau, which was [the son] of Phalec, which was [the son] of Heber, which was [the son] of Sala,Saruch Ragau Phalec Heber Sala
Luke 3:36 Which was [the son] of Cainan, which was [the son] of Arphaxad, which was [the son] of Sem, which was [the son] of Noe, which was [the son] of Lamech,Cainan Arphaxad Sem Noe Lamech
Luke 3:37 Which was [the son] of Mathusala, which was [the son] of Enoch, which was [the son] of Jared, which was [the son] of Maleleel, which was [the son] of Cainan,Mathusala Enoch Jared Maleleel Cainan
Luke 3:38 Which was [the son] of Enos, which was [the son] of Seth, which was [the son] of Adam, which was [the son] of God.Enos Seth Adam God
Bibliographical Information
"Commentary on Luke 3". "The Gospels Compared". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tgc/luke-3.html. 2014.