Luke 3- Bear Fruits In Keeping With Repentance

This chapter tells us about John and his instructions to the people who came to be baptized by him. He tells them, “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” It sounds to me like John was basically calling them out on outward repentance; he was letting them know that halfhearted repentance and relying on their status as Abraham’s children is not what God is looking for; after all, God could make children for Abraham out of anyone or anything if he wanted to. God did not intend for them to be a people who used their standing as Abraham’s children as an excuse for not changing their actions and hearts.

So, naturally, the people asked John what they should do; he responded by telling the people to share their extra clothing and food with people who were in need, telling the tax collectors not to take extra for themselves, and telling the soldiers to be happy with their pay and stop extorting money. In other words, he told the people to quit being so focused on themselves, their stuff, money, and getting more, and to start focusing on giving their extra stuff to others, treating everyone fairly, and appreciating what they had. The words from Isaiah at the beginning of the chapter seem to point to this too:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Isaiah’s imagery seems to speak of people changing their ways—crooked becoming straight, rough places becoming level. At the same time it seems to speak of essentially leveling the playing field among the people—valleys being filled and mountains and hills being made low. If the people did as John instructed them, those who were better off would change their ways, humble themselves, and give to (or stop taking from) those who were in need, while the needy would have more.

Isn’t this something God still wants today? Surely he did not mean for only the Israelites who were hearing John’s message to follow these principles. Halfhearted outward repentance with the attitude, “Well, I’m a child of God, so I’m good” is not what he is looking for. I believe he still wants his people to bear fruit in keeping with their repentance. I believe John’s instructions to the people still stand today; if we have extra, let’s give some away to those who don’t have. All anyone actually needs is enough for themselves/their families, right? We don’t need all the extra clothing and food and money—yet there are people all around us who don’t even have enough for themselves/their families. Let’s level the playing field a bit. I believe God’s desire is for his people to quit focusing on themselves, their stuff, money, and getting more, and instead to focus on giving to others, treating everyone fairly, and appreciating what we have.