{"id":652,"date":"2023-07-28T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/?p=652&2023"},"modified":"2023-07-25T18:00:12","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T00:00:12","slug":"acting-out-repentance-luke-3-1-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/acting-out-repentance-luke-3-1-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Acting Out Repentance: Luke 3:1-18"},"content":{"rendered":"
Focus Passage: Luke 3:1-18 (NLT)<\/div>
\r\n

1\u00a0<\/sup>It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. 2\u00a0<\/sup>Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. 3\u00a0<\/sup>Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 4\u00a0<\/sup>Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,<\/p>

\u201cHe is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
\u2018Prepare the way for the Lord\u2019s coming!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Clear the road for him!
5\u00a0<\/sup>The valleys will be filled,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and the rough places made smooth.
6\u00a0<\/sup>And then all people will see
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the salvation sent from God.\u2019\u201d<\/p>

7\u00a0<\/sup>When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, \u201cYou brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God\u2019s coming wrath? 8\u00a0<\/sup>Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don\u2019t just say to each other, \u2018We\u2019re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.\u2019 That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 9\u00a0<\/sup>Even now the ax of God\u2019s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.\u201d<\/p>

10\u00a0<\/sup>The crowds asked, \u201cWhat should we do?\u201d<\/p>

11\u00a0<\/sup>John replied, \u201cIf you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.\u201d<\/p>

12\u00a0<\/sup>Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, \u201cTeacher, what should we do?\u201d<\/p>

13\u00a0<\/sup>He replied, \u201cCollect no more taxes than the government requires.\u201d<\/p>

14\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cWhat should we do?\u201d asked some soldiers.<\/p>

John replied, \u201cDon\u2019t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.\u201d<\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. 16\u00a0<\/sup>John answered their questions by saying, \u201cI baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am\u2014so much greater that I\u2019m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17\u00a0<\/sup>He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.\u201d 18\u00a0<\/sup>John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.<\/p>\r\n

Read Luke 3:1-18<\/a> in context and\/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!<\/p><\/div><\/div>\r\n

Before Jesus steps into the public eye, the gospel writers tell us about His forerunner in ministry: John the Baptist. John\u2019s teaching was powerful and convicting, and he drew a crowd full of people who were looking forward to the day when the Messiah would be revealed.<\/p>\r\n

In Luke\u2019s description of John\u2019s ministry, he draws our attention towards how John\u2019s message convicts the crowd. Luke even tells us that after one of John\u2019s messages, the crowd asked, \u201cWhat should we do?<\/strong>\u201d (v. 10)<\/p>\r\n

John\u2019s reply is both simple and profound. He responds by saying, \u201cIf you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.<\/strong>\u201d (v. 11)<\/p>\r\n

John\u2019s message to the crowd is simple: Share with others<\/strong>. It is not a message that says we must share until we become poor ourselves, but instead to not save to the point where we are too far removed from those in need. We are to focus on only having the minimum, and share the rest with others in need.<\/p>\r\n

But this wasn\u2019t detailed enough for some people. Luke continues by telling us that even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked specifically, \u201cTeacher, what should we do?<\/strong>\u201d (v. 12)<\/p>\r\n

John\u2019s response to them is just as simple as with his response to the crowd. He tells them, \u201cCollect no more taxes than the government requires.<\/strong>\u201d (v. 13)<\/p>\r\n

In other words, John tells the tax collectors to not abuse their responsibility to the government. While they are still required to collect taxes, they must not collect more than what the real tax amount was. Many of the corrupt tax collectors added to the tax that they required from people, in order to get money from the people in addition to their pay from the government. John says they must stop abusing their role and job status.<\/p>\r\n

Some soldiers also ask John the same question: \u201cWhat should we do?<\/strong>\u201d John\u2019s reply, \u201cDon\u2019t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.<\/strong>\u201d (v. 14)<\/p>\r\n

In each of these responses, John emphasizes humility and contentment. Be content with what you have, and share with others. Don\u2019t use your status or position to push others down. Repent of your past sins and make the commitment to live differently in the future.<\/p>\r\n

John\u2019s message wasn\u2019t just for the Jews. He attracted all people, from every imaginable background possible. John\u2019s message wasn\u2019t just for that point in history either. His message to the crowd speaks through Luke\u2019s gospel throughout time to us today. While our world is different today, John\u2019s teaching is still relevant.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus<\/strong> \u201cReflective Bible Study\u201d package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here<\/a> and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!<\/em><\/p>

Subscribe<\/a> to this blog and never miss an insight.<\/em><\/p><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Before Jesus steps into the public eye, the gospel writers tell us about His forerunner in ministry: John the Baptist. John\u2019s teaching was powerful and convicting, and he drew a crowd full of people who were looking forward to the day when the Messiah would be revealed. 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