John Replies to His Critics - Luke 3:10–14

     Many people coming to hear John the Baptist were convicted of their sins and asked him what they should do. He gave a prescription of conduct to various groups. Three groups are mentioned in our text.
     The people. “What shall we do … He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him to likewise” (Luke 3:10,11). The message for the people was mercy and charity. This indirectly exposed the sin of the people, namely, selfishness.
     The publicans. “Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you?” (Luke 3:12,13). John the Baptist did not hesitate to deal with sin. The publicans, who were the tax collectors, were notorious for overcharging people for taxes. The Roman government gave each publican a specific territory and told him how much he was to collect from it. Anything he could collect over that required amount was profit for him, and the publicans were not hesitant to over-charge as much as they could.
     The policemen. “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” (Luke 3:14). “Some of these soldiers acted as police to help the publicans” (Robertson). In a dictatorial government (which Rome was), the situation was an actual police state, conditions enforced by the police/soldier. John the Baptist gave these soldiers a threefold answer:

• First, the cruelty in the answer. “Do violence to no man.” Soldiers have the means to do violence to people. But might does not make right in Christ’s kingdom.
• Second, the charges in the answer. “Neither accuse any falsely.” Soldiers could be very evil to people by bringing false accusations. Roman courts readily accepted the testimony of a soldier.
• Third, the contentment in the answer. “Be content with your wages.” That could be said to us all. Soldiers have never been well paid, but that does not justify their fussing about their salary. Contentment with wages reflects an attitude that is not poisoned by materialism.