Prepare the Way of the Lord

Prepare the Way of the Lord - Make His Paths Straight

LUKE 3 COMMENTARY ◄
Luke 3:3 Baptism of Repentance

Luke 3:4-6 Prepare the Way of the Lord

LUKE 3:4-6 4 as it has been written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight His paths. 5 Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will be made straight, and the rough into smooth paths; 6 and all flesh will see the salvation of God.’ ”

Is John the Baptist talking about leveling land to build a road to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4)?
He is talking about spiritual preparation and transformation that accompanies the “salvation of God” (Luke 3:6): the proud will be humbled; the humble will be lifted up; the crooks will give up their crooked ways; and the rough will become gentle so that before God, everyone - “all flesh” (Luke 3:6) - is at the same level and state.

Which is?
Hell-bound sinners in need of God's salvation.

To which passage “in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet” (Luke 3:4) is John the Baptist referring?
Isaiah 40:1-4: “Be comforted, be comforted, My people!” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her warfare is ended, that her sin is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” The voice of one shouting in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be raised, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the crooked places be made straight, and the rough places smooth. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 40:1-5).

What was the context of this passage?
The book of Isaiah was written for the Jews returning to the promised land from exile. The first 39 chapters of Isaiah emphasize God’s judgment. The passage quoted above (from Isaiah chapter 40) marks the shift to the comfort that God will provide and alludes to Jesus coming to save His people (see Isaiah 53).