Luke 3:12

Luke 3:12

10 So the people asked him, saying, ^a“What shall we do then?”

11 He answered and said to them, ^a“He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, ^blet him do likewise.”

12 Then ^atax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

13 And he said to them, ^a“Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not¹ intimidate anyone ^aor accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Then came also publicans - He next instructs the tax-gatherers in the proper discharge of their duty: though it was an office detested by the Jews at large, yet the Baptist does not condemn it. It is only the abuse of it that he speaks against. If taxes be necessary for the support of a state, there must be collectors of them; and the collector, if he properly discharge his duty, is not only a useful, but also a respectable officer. But it seems the Jewish tax-gatherers exacted much more from the people than government authorized them to do, Luke 3:13, and the surplus they pocketed. See the conduct of many of our surveyors and assessors. They are oppressors of the people, and enrich themselves by unjust surcharges. This, I am inclined to think, is too common an evil; and the executive government is often the people' s scape-goat, to bear the crimes of its officers, crimes in which it has no concern. For an account of the publicans, see the note on Matthew 5:46.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Luke 3:12:**

Matthew 17:11
Luke 1:16
Luke 1:76
John 3:36
Acts 13:24

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Luke 3:13 >>

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