Luke 3:18

And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Many other things . . .—This lay, more or less, in the nature of the case; but St. Luke’s is the only record which lays stress on the wider range of the Baptist’s teaching. The sources of information which supplied him with Luke 3:10-14, probably brought to his knowledge much of the same character; but what he records, in common with the other two Evangelists, was, as it were, the text and burden of it all.

Benson Commentary

Luke 3:18-20. And many other things preached he unto the people — In this manner did John inculcate the doctrine of repentance, and declare his Master’s greatness. But his sermons were not confined to these matters. He discoursed also on many other important subjects, according as he knew they would be profitable to his hearers. But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him, &c. — In the whole course of John’s ministry he showed great integrity and courage, but especially in his intercourse with Herod the tetrarch, who, it seems, had heard him, and admitted him into conversation; for he was so bold as to address the tetrarch on the subject of his favourite sins, particularly his adultery with Herodias. This he represented to him in its true colours, and reproved him for it. But the effect of his exhortation was not what it ought to have been. It did not bring Herod to repentance. On the contrary, it so provoked him, that he cast the Baptist into prison, and thereby put an end to his ministry, after it had lasted a considerable time. This circumstance, though it happened after, is here mentioned before our Lord’s baptism, that his history (that of John being concluded) might then follow without any interruption.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:15-20 John the Baptist disowned being himself the Christ, but confirmed the people in their expectations of the long-promised Messiah. He could only exhort them to repent, and assure them of forgiveness upon repentance; but he could not work repentance in them, nor confer remission on them. Thus highly does it become us to speak of Christ, and thus humbly of ourselves. John can do no more than baptize with water, in token that they ought to purify and cleanse themselves; but Christ can, and will baptize with the Holy Ghost; he can give the Spirit, to cleanse and purify the heart, not only as water washes off the dirt on the outside, but as fire clears out the dross that is within, and melts down the metal, that it may be cast into a new mould. John was an affectionate preacher; he was beseeching; he pressed things home upon his hearers. He was a practical preacher; quickening them to their duty, and directing them in it. He was a popular preacher; he addressed the people, according to their capacity. He was an evangelical preacher. In all his exhortations, he directed people to Christ. When we press duty upon people, we must direct them to Christ, both for righteousness and strength. He was a copious preacher; he shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. But a full stop was put to John's preaching when he was in the midst of his usefulness. Herod being reproved by him for many evils, shut up John in prison. Those who injure the faithful servants of God, add still greater guilt to their other sins.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 3:11-12.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

18. many other things, &c.—such as we read in Joh 1:29, 33, 34; 3:27-36. (Also see on [1557]Mt 3:12.)

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 3:16"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And many other thing's,.... Relating to the person and office of the Messiah, to the nature of his kingdom, the Gospel dispensation, and to faith in him; for he pointed him out to the people, and exhorted them to believe in him, and expressed much joy and pleasure on the hearing of his success and increase; and these, with others beside, in his "exhortation", or whilst he was

exhorting, or "comforting",

preached he unto the people: publishing the Gospel, the good news, and glad tidings of the Messiah's being come, and of life, righteousness, and salvation by him.

Geneva Study Bible

And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Luke 3:18-20. See on Matthew 14:3 ff.; Mark 6:17 ff. On μὲν οὖν, quidem igitur, so that μέν, “rem praesentem confirmet,” and οὖν, “conclusionem ex rebus ita comparatis conficiat,” see Klotz, ad Devar. p. 662 f.

καὶ ἕτερα] and other matters besides, different in kind from those already adduced. As to καί with πολλά, see Blomfield, ad Aesch. Pers. 249; Kühner, ad Xen. Mem. i. 2. 24; and as to ἕτερα, see on Galatians 1:7.

εὐηγγελίζετο τ. λαόν] he supplied the people with the glad announcement of the coming Messiah. On the construction, comp. Acts 8:25; Acts 8:40; Acts 14:21; Acts 16:10; Lobeck, ad Phryn. p. 268.

ὁ δὲ Ἡρώδης κ.τ.λ.] an historical digression in which several details are brought together in brief compass for the purpose of at once completing the delineation of John in its chief features. To that description also belonged the contrast between his work (εὐηγγελίζ. τ. λαόν) and his destiny. The brief intimation of Luke 3:19-20 was sufficient for this.

ἐλεγχόμενος κ.τ.λ.] See Matthew 14:3 f.

καὶ περὶ πάντων κ.τ.λ.] peculiar to Luke, but, as we gather from Mark 6:20, essentially historical. The πονηρῶν, attracted with it, stands thus according to classical usage. See Matthiae, § 473, quoted by Dissen, ad Dem. de Cor. p. 177, 349.

ἐπὶ πᾶσι] to all his wicked deeds.

καὶ κατέκλεισε] simplicity in the style is maintained at the expense of the syntax (Kühner, § 720).

ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ] in the prison, whither he had brought him. Comp. Acts 26:10; Herodian, v. 8. 12, and elsewhere; Xen. Cyrop. vi. 4. 10.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 3:18-20. Close of the Baptist’s ministry and life. Lk. gives here all he means to say about John, condensing into a single sentence the full narratives of Mt. and Mk. as to his end.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. many other things] Of which some are recorded by St John alone (Luke 1:29; Luke 1:34, Luke 3:27-36).

preached he] εὐηγγελίζετο, literally, “he was preaching the Good Tidings.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 3:18-19. Παρακαλῶν, exhorting) The function of John was to exhort, and to announce the coming Gospel; to rebuke and to preach, Comp. Luke 3:3; Luke 3:19.—εὐηγγελίζετο, he preached the coming Gospel) as he did in Luke 3:16.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. These words tell us that the above was merely a "specimen" of John the Baptist's preaching, trenchant, fearless, practical, piercing the hearts of all classes and orders of the people who thronged to hear the earnest, fiery appeals of the great desert preacher. In this and in the next two verses St. Luke once more gives us a little picture of the events which were spread over a considerable area or' time. It is here introduced out of its proper place to explain the abrupt termination of the popular career of John the Baptist. Luke 3:18

Vincent's Word Studies

Other (ἕτερα)

Rather, various, different.

Preached (εὐηγγελίζετο)

Rev. preserves the fuller meaning of the word according to its etymology: preached good tidings. See on Gospel, Superscription of Matthew.