Luke 3:10-14 Meaning: What Must We Do? Repentance in Action
10The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?”
11He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”
12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”
13He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”
14Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”
10And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
12Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
10And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do?
11And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.
12And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do?
13And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you.
14And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages.
10And the multitudes were questioning him, saying, `What, then, shall we do?'
11and he answering saith to them, `He having two coats--let him impart to him having none, and he having victuals--in like manner let him do.'
12And there came also tax-gatherers to be baptised, and they said unto him, `Teacher, what shall we do?'
13and he said unto them, `Exact no more than that directed you.'
14And questioning him also were those warring, saying, `And we, what shall we do?' and he said unto them, `Do violence to no one, nor accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.'
10And the crowds asked him saying, What should we do then?
11And he answering says to them, He that has two body-coats, let him give to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do likewise.
12And tax-gatherers came also to be baptised, and they said to him, Teacher, what should we do?
13And he said to them, Take no more [money] than what is appointed to you.
14And persons engaged in military service also asked him saying, And we, what should we do? And he said to them, Oppress no one, nor accuse falsely, and be satisfied with your pay.
Meaning in one sentence
John the Baptist shows three groups what repentance looks like: share generously, be honest in work, don't extort, and be content.
Context
John the Baptist had just warned the crowds that the ax was already at the root of the tree. Repentance without fruit would be worthless. Now the people are shaken. They crowd around him with the question that any honest heart asks: “What then must we do?” John’s answer is striking in its practicality. He doesn’t tell them to climb a mountain or make a pilgrimage. Instead he points to the person standing next to them, the one without a coat, the one being overcharged, the one being intimidated. This passage, unique to Luke, shows that genuine repentance reshapes how we treat others in the ordinary settings of daily life.
Key Words
Three small words carry the weight of John’s answer. First, metadidōmi (impart, share) appears in verse 11. It means to give part of what you have to someone who lacks it. The verb suggests more than a tip or leftovers, it is a deliberate sharing of what you consider yours. Second, diaseiō (extort) in verse 14 literally means to shake violently or intimidate. Luke uses the strongest word available for what soldiers were doing on the job. Third, arkeō (be content) is the same word Paul uses in Philippians 4:11 for learning to be satisfied. It carries the idea of having enough, not wanting more. Together these words show that repentance reaches into your wallet, your work habits, and your sense of enough.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across traditions, commentators notice that John does not condemn the occupations of tax collectors or soldiers. Calvin points out that John calls for duties specific to each calling, charity for the general crowd, honesty for tax collectors, and nonviolence for soldiers. Wesley calls these answers the teaching of the Holy Spirit on how to come to Christ. Gill observes that John did not tell the publicans to leave their work, only to stop their extortion. The Cambridge Bible notes that a second tunic was a luxury when thousands had none. Christians from many traditions agree: John’s commands are not a complete list of Christian ethics, but the first visible signs that repentance is real.
A common misunderstanding
Some people read these verses and think John is laying down a set of rules you must obey in order to be saved. They hear “share your coat, collect no more, be content” and wonder if salvation depends on getting it all right. In fact, John has already called them to repentance and baptism. These actions are not the root of salvation but the fruit. They are the evidence that a person’s heart has turned. The question “What must we do?” comes from people already moved by the Spirit to change.
Living This Out
This passage asks you to look at your ordinary week through three specific lenses. First, generosity: Is there someone in your path who has less than you need? A coat, a meal, an hour of your time, John says share what you have, not what you can spare. Second, honesty in your work: Do you have a position where you could take a little extra without getting caught? Overcharging, padding an expense report, looking the other way? That is exactly where John’s finger points. Third, contentment: When you look at what you earn, is there a quiet resentment that you deserve more? John says stop rattling the cage of others to get it. One concrete change this week might be to identify one item you could give away and one dishonest habit you could confess.
Main takeaway: Repentance that is genuine changes how you treat your neighbour, handle your money, and measure whether you have enough.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
John told people: if you have two coats, give one to someone who has none. That means when you have extra toys or snacks, you can share with a friend who doesn’t have any.
For ages 9, 12
John gave different advice to different people because each group had a different problem. The crowd needed to be generous. Tax collectors needed to stop cheating. Soldiers needed to stop bullying and be happy with their pay. Think about your own life, is there a way you can share something you have, or a time you took more than you should? That’s where repentance starts to look real.
Questions People Ask
Why did John give different instructions to the crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers?
Because repentance shows itself differently depending on your situation. John tailored his answer to each group’s specific temptations. The general crowd was selfish with their possessions. Tax collectors were known for extorting extra money. Soldiers used violence and false accusations to intimidate. Real repentance stops the particular sin you are most likely to commit.
Does John’s command to tax collectors mean they shouldn’t collect taxes at all?
No. John did not tell them to quit their job. He told them to collect only what the government had appointed them to collect. The problem was not the job itself, but the dishonesty and greed that often went with it. Christians have understood this to mean that honest work is acceptable as long as it is done with integrity.
Does John’s silence about soldiers leaving the army mean Christians can serve in the military?
Christians across traditions have drawn different conclusions from this passage. Some argue that since John does not tell soldiers to leave their post, military service can be a legitimate occupation when carried out with justice and restraint. Others emphasize that later New Testament teaching calls believers to peacemaking. Both groups recognize that John calls for an end to violence, extortion, and false accusations.
What does “be content with your wages” mean for someone who is underpaid?
John is speaking to soldiers who had the power to take more by force. His command is not to use that power to supplement their income through intimidation or greed. For someone who is genuinely underpaid, the passage does not forbid seeking a fair wage through honest means. Contentment here means not using dishonest shortcuts to get more.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study