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,

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} himself {G846} began {G756} to be {G2258} about {G5616} thirty {G5144} years of age {G2094}, being {G5607}(as {G5613} was supposed {G3543}) the son {G5207} of Joseph {G2501}, which was the son of Heli {G2242},

Yeshua was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. It was supposed that he was a son of Yosef who was of Eli,

Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,

And Jesus himself, when he beganto teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,

Luke 3:23 marks a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative, signaling the commencement of Jesus Christ's public ministry and introducing His unique lineage according to Luke. This verse immediately follows His baptism by John the Baptist and precedes His temptation in the wilderness, setting the stage for His active work.

Context of Luke 3:23

At approximately thirty years of age, Jesus was entering the traditional age of maturity and eligibility for significant public roles in Jewish society, including that of a rabbi or priest. The Law prescribed this age for Levites to begin their service in the tabernacle (Numbers 4:3). This timing underscores God's perfect plan and Jesus' readiness for His divine mission.

The mention of Joseph as His supposed father initiates Luke's genealogy, which differs from Matthew's. While Matthew traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph back to Abraham, emphasizing His royal Davidic claim for a Jewish audience, Luke traces it through what is widely understood to be Mary's lineage (Joseph's father-in-law, Heli, or a different paternal line for Joseph) all the way back to Adam. This universal scope highlights Jesus' role as the Savior of all humanity, not just Israel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Timing: Jesus began His ministry at the divinely appointed time, fulfilling prophecies and readiness for His mission to proclaim the kingdom of God.
  • Jesus' Dual Nature: The phrase "as was supposed) the son of Joseph" subtly acknowledges Jesus' human lineage and the common perception of His parentage, while implicitly pointing to the divine truth of His virgin birth. He was fully human, yet truly the Son of God.
  • Historical Veracity: Luke, as a meticulous historian, provides this detailed genealogy to affirm the historical reality of Jesus and His genuine connection to humanity.
  • Universal Savior: By tracing Jesus' ancestry back to Adam, Luke emphasizes that Christ's salvation is for all people, not just a select group, making Him the "last Adam" who redeems all humanity.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase "as was supposed" (hos enomizeto - ὡς ἐνομίζετο) is crucial. It signifies the public's understanding and legal perspective of Jesus' parentage through Joseph, while carefully avoiding a direct assertion that Joseph was His biological father. This nuance preserves the doctrine of the virgin birth, which Luke details earlier in his Gospel (see Luke 1:27 and Luke 1:34-35).

Practical Application

Understanding Luke 3:23 offers several insights for believers today:

  • God's Timing: Just as Jesus entered His ministry at the appointed time, we can trust God's perfect timing for our own lives and callings.
  • Jesus' Relatability: His human lineage, though divinely conceived, highlights His full humanity, allowing Him to truly empathize with our struggles and temptations (Hebrews 4:15).
  • The Importance of Identity: This verse underscores the complex yet clear identity of Jesus as both truly human and divinely begotten, foundational to Christian faith.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 13:55

    Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

  • Numbers 4:3

    From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Matthew 4:17

    From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

  • Acts 1:1

    ¶ The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

  • Genesis 41:46

    ¶ And Joseph [was] thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

  • Luke 4:22

    And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

  • Matthew 1:16

    And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

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