Luke 3:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways,

NIV: Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.

NASB: EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE LOWERED; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH;

CSB: Every valley will be filled,and every mountain and hill will be made low;the crooked will become straight,the rough ways smooth,

NLT: The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.

KJV: 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;

NKJV: Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth;

This continues a quotation from Isaiah 40:3–5. Luke is explaining how John the Baptist fulfilled prophecy by proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah (Luke 3:1–4). Isaiah predicts a single voice in the wilderness, and John has lived most of his life in the desert (Luke 1:80). When he began to preach, his message was for Israel to repent and be ready to meet the Savior (Luke 1:76–77). John called on people to turn from sin, but also made it clear he was not, himself, the Promised One (John 1:26–34; 3:28–30).

When Isaiah wrote his words, they were presented to the people of Israel as a prediction that God would bring them back from exile. The secondary application is that of the lone herald speaking about the coming Messiah. This is further supported by other Old Testament prophecies that indicate a herald will precede Christ (Malachi 3:1; 4:5–6). John's preaching ministry will turn "rough places" into "level ways," by preparing others to hear and accept Jesus' message (John 19:1–5).

Luke 3:1–6 continues a pattern establishing Luke's account as genuine history. Once again, he ties these events to other historical markers. This also creates contrast: while powerful men are in powerful positions, the "the word of God" comes to a strange hermit living in the desert. Luke's account also provides a connection between John's ministry and the prophecies which predicted it.

The early part of Luke's gospel shifts back and forth between the histories of Jesus and John the Baptist. Chapter 3 starts with historical and prophetic context about John. It then depicts some of John's interactions with local religious leaders. Luke gives only a brief description of Jesus' baptism. He also touches on John's criticism of Herod the Tetrarch, which would eventually result in John's execution (Matthew 14:10–12). The chapter ends with a genealogy of Christ.

Chapters 1 and 2 provided early history for both John the Baptist and Jesus. Chapter 3 establishes John's preaching ministry and its connection to Jesus Christ. The chapter ends with a genealogy which some believe runs through Mary's side of the family. Chapter 4 transitions from Jesus' baptism into His public ministry, by describing His fasting in the wilderness and temptation by Satan.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

Accessed 5/5/2024 10:28:11 PM