What does Luke 3:23 mean?

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, Luke 3:23

Explanation

The verse Luke 3:23 serves as an introduction to Jesus’s public ministry and indicates the time when He began his work. It states that Jesus was about thirty years old when he started, which was considered the age of maturity and readiness for public service according to Jewish tradition. This verse also points out that Jesus was commonly believed to be the son of Joseph. However, “as was supposed” implies that Jesus was not Joseph’s biological son but that Joseph was his legal father or adoptive parent. Jesus’s actual parentage, according to Christian belief, is divine, as He is regarded as the Son of God. Furthermore, the genealogy that follows the verse, starting with Joseph being the son of Heli, is typically understood as tracing Jesus’s lineage through Joseph, symbolizing Jesus’s rightful place in the history of Israel.

Historical Context

Luke was written in the late first century AD, likely around 80-110 AD. The author is traditionally thought to be Luke, a companion of Paul. The Gospel of Luke is one of four canonical Gospels which aim to tell the story of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. At the time of Luke’s writing, presenting a genealogy would have been an important method to establish someone’s heritage, right to teach, and to fulfill messianic prophecies, thereby legitimizing his claim as the Jewish Messiah. The fact that Jesus is said to have begun his ministry at about thirty years old places him in line with other priests and prophets who began their service at a similar age in Jewish tradition.

Theological Insights

Luke 3:23 has several theological implications. Firstly, Jesus starting his ministry at about thirty mirrors the age at which priests were allowed to serve in the temple (Numbers 4:3), denoting readiness and full entrance into adulthood. Secondly, the phrase “as was supposed” has been theologically interpreted to affirm the virgin birth, underscoring the Christian belief that Joseph was not Jesus’s biological father. The genealogy in Luke differs from the one in Matthew, leading some theologians to propose it traces through Mary, with Heli possibly being Mary’s father, while others suggest it is simply another line through Joseph. Both genealogies emphasize the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would come from the House of David.

Practical Applications

Luke 3:23 can inspire practical lessons for daily life. This verse encourages individuals to prepare adequately for their life’s work and suggests that there is a right time for each person to begin their calling, as Jesus did at about thirty. For personal readiness and maturity, it underscores the importance of preparation and waiting for the appropriate season to take on significant responsibilities. Additionally, the mention of Jesus’s lineage through Joseph can speak to the importance of legal and social responsibilities—even though Jesus was not biologically related to Joseph, the cultural and familial role still held significance.

Cross-References

• 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 1:16: “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”
• John 6:42: “And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”

Language Study

In the original Greek text, “about” (ὡσεὶ or “hōsei”) signifies approximation, not a precise measurement of age. The term “supposed” (νομίζω or “nomizō”) suggests an assumption or something generally accepted by society, rather than a statement of biological fact. Finally, “son” (υἱὸς or “huios”) in this context is not just a term of physical parentage but could be used as “descendant,” allowing for both Jesus’s relation to Joseph and to Heli.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Genealogies were significant in many ancient societies, not just Israel. Ancient Roman and Greek cultures, for example, traced lineage to affirm status and heritage. The emphasis on Jesus being a descendant of David is similar to other ancient myths where heroes are descendants of gods or prominent figures, a pattern seen in the tales of Heracles and other figures in Greek mythology. In Hinduism, the texts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, also contain elaborate genealogies that serve both as cosmological and historical records.

Scientific Perspectives

There isn’t much room for scientific discourse in the interpretation of Luke 3:23, as genealogy and age at the time of starting a ministry are not typically subjects of scientific investigation. The reference to age could intersect with the modern understanding of human development, and thirty is often considered an age where individuals reach full maturity in psychological and social aspects, which could provide insight into why many cultures have historically marked this age as significant for leadership.

Commentaries

Commentators often discuss Luke’s intention in noting Jesus’s age as about thirty, agreeing that it marks a typical age for a Jewish man to undertake public roles. The mention that Joseph was the “son of Heli” in Luke differs from Matthew’s lineage, prompting discussion about the differences. While some commentaries suggest Luke might trace Jesus’s lineage through Mary to David, others hold that Luke’s purpose was theological—to show that Jesus is the Son of God who supersedes human lineage. Commentaries also often note that Luke’s genealogy presents Jesus as a figure for all humanity, not just the Jews, as Luke traces the lineage back to Adam, not just Abraham, thus making Jesus’s message universal.