The Message of John
August 24, 2022
Commentary
This passage gives us precise historical information about the secular leaders of that day and specifically brings before us the baptism of John the Baptist and his message of repentance (vv. 1-6). Luke tells us exactly when John began his ministry. Isaiah wrote about John in Isaiah 40:3-5. It was in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberias Caesar (v.1). Tiberias was the step-son of Augustus Caesar and secular history portrays him as a very evil man. Luke then goes on to introduce us to both political and religious leaders who would later determine the death of Jesus Christ. John says that repentance is not genuine unless it is morally productive. He challenged the people to bring forth fruit as an indication of their belief (vv. 7-9). He was clear that being a member of the nation of Israel would not save anyone (v. 8), and that judgment was coming to anyone who did not evidence a genuine repentance (v. 19).
Three groups responded to John’s warnings: the people (vv. 10-11), the tax collectors (vv. 12-13) and the soldiers (v. 14). The virtues God demands are not mere legal technicalities but are:
- Generosity (v. 11) – A person shows his repentance by being generous with the necessities of life – clothing and food.
- Honesty (v. 13) – Tax collectors were notorious for their dishonesty in collecting more than required and pocketing it for themselves. He said they needed to be fair in all their dealings.
- Contentment (v. 14) – Soldiers were known and hated for always trying to get more money. He told them that they needed to be content with what they had.
The crowd, all asked, What should we do to give evidence of genuine repentance? In response John told the people to be (a) generous (3:11), (b) honest (v. 13), and (c) content (v. 14).
Application
These three virtues that John said were evidence of genuine repentance are certainly missing in the day in which we live. On a scale of 1-10 how would I rate myself in the areas of generosity, honesty and contentment?
Luke 3:1– 14 (NET)
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4 As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low, and the crooked will be made straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth,
6 and all humanity will see the salvation of God.’”
7 So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don’t begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 9 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 So the crowds were asking him, “What then should we do?” 11 John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He told them, “Collect no more than you are required to.” 14 Then some soldiers also asked him, “And as for us—what should we do?” He told them, “Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.”