Publicans Ask What They Should Do - Luke 3:12

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? 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.”, and in chapter three and verse twelve of his book Luke shared, “then came also the publicans to be baptized” where we read:

Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

The verse reads, “Then came also publicans to be baptized, ...” Luke began with the words, “then came also publicans” or “moreover there appeared, arose and came forth even so and indeed tax gatherers or collectors of public revenue” “to be baptized” which means “to be submerged or immersed in water”. Luke shared how the “tax collectors” also came to John to be “baptized” by him.

The verse goes on to say, “... and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?” Luke continued with the words, “and said unto him” which means “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and questioned John”, “Master” or “teacher”, “what shall we do” which means “what are we tax collectors to make ready, prepare and produce”? Luke shared how the “tax collectors” also wondered how they were to respond to the “good news” John was preaching.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we discover the effect that John's preaching had upon the “tax collectors”. These “tax collectors” wondered how they were to respond to his preaching, and because they were normally hated among the people because they cheated them, this was quite the request. Tax collectors were to retrieve from people the “tax” mandated by the Roman government, and anything they exacted over that amount became theirs. Usually the tax collectors were Jewish men who were collecting taxes from and cheating their own people. We can imagine the reaction of the crowd as John began to answer them. God's desire is to save every person who will believe and trust in His Son Jesus, and regardless of their reputation among other people, when they yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will not only forgive them of their sins, but also give them “everlasting life”.

Next time Luke shares how John told the publicans, “exact no more than that which is appointed you”, 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".