7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” 11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
Luke presented John’s message in terms of ethics. True repentance produces how one acts toward others.
3:7
Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Luke now related the message John gave to the crowds following him. First, the Baptist called the crowd a “brood of snakes,” which poisoned them with false beliefs. He warned them about the future of God’s wrath, which would require repentance. There were far-reaching issues at hand.
3:8
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Fruit in one’s life indicates what people believe (Acts 26:20). Physical descent is without value apart from repentance. Jews relied on their physical descent from Abraham to gain acceptance from God (Jn 8:33, 39). However, salvation is an individual and personal matter between the person and God. Salvation involves more than one’s heritage.
Fruit is the inevitable result of repentance. Repentance is more than submission to a ritual; it changes one’s values.
3:9
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
This verse warns of the coming wrath. An ax will cut down trees that do not bear good fruit. The singular “tree” suggests each individual will face God’s judgment.
3:10
So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
The crowd asked what they should do to avoid the wrath of God and how they could demonstrate genuine repentance. The issue is the proper response to John’s message.
3:11
He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
John began to lay out the kind of fruit that indicates genuine repentance. If someone had a change of clothes, they should share it. A tunic was the inner garment worn under the cloak.
3:12
Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
Tax collectors were notorious for their dishonesty.
3:13
And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
The challenge to the tax collectors regarded honesty. They could continue to collect taxes.
3:14
Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
Soldiers were not to accuse people falsely.
PRINCIPLE:
True repentance affects the totality of one’s life.
APPLICATION:
Genuine repentance manifests itself in concrete action. The mark of conversion is change of character. Repentance is a change of mind toward God to align with His will. It is something that changes one’s approach to life.
