If You Have Two, Give One Away - Luke 3:11

Luke the physician wrote how John said, “to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?”, and in chapter three and verse eleven of his book Luke shared how how John answered the people, “He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise” where we read:

He answered and said unto them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none;

and he that has meat, let him do likewise.

The verse reads, “He answered and said unto them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none;” Luke began with the words, “He answered” or “John responded and began to answer” “and said unto them” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to the people who wanted to know what they were to do”, “He that has two coats” or “the person who holds, owns or possesses two tunics, undergarments or vestments”, “let him impart” which means “allow and permit that person to give and share” “to him that has none” or “with the person who is without tunics, undergarments or vestments”. Luke shared how John told the people if they had “two outer garments”, they were to share with the person who does not have outer garments.

The verse continues, “and he that has meat, let him do likewise.” Luke added the words, “and he that has meat” which means “and the person who holds, owns or possesses victuals or food”, “let him do likewise” or “allow and permit that person to give and share with the person who does not have food”. Luke shared how the person who has “food” should share their “food” with others who do not.

When think through Luke's words in this verse, we see “two” examples of how a person may respond to the good news of John the Baptist. The first response is according to “garments” or clothing. If a person had “two” outer garments, they were to share with the person who had none, and if a person had food, they were to share with people who do not have food. God's plan for the salvation of man through His Son Jesus included caring for the “physical” needs of others, and when “clothing” and “food” are involved, those who have are to share with those who have not. God's desire is to bring people into a “spiritual” relationship with Him, and by believing and trusting in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they shall not only be forgiven of their sins, but will also have compassion toward others who have “physical” needs.

Next time Luke shares, “then came also the publicans to be baptized”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".