Luke 3 12

Luke 3:12 kjv

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

Luke 3:12 nkjv

Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"

Luke 3:12 niv

Even tax collectors came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"

Luke 3:12 esv

Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"

Luke 3:12 nlt

Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?"

Luke 3 verses

Luke 3 12 Meaning

Luke 3:12 describes tax collectors, who were often despised and excluded by society for their practices, coming to John the Baptist to be baptized. Their profound question, "Teacher, what shall we we do?" signifies a sincere and repentant heart, demonstrating their recognition of John's divine authority and a genuine desire to practically apply the principles of righteousness and change their unrighteous ways. It underscores that God's call to repentance and transformation is extended to all, even those considered the greatest of sinners by human standards, and that true repentance leads to an inquiry about specific actions for ethical living.

Luke 3 12 Context

Luke chapter 3 sets the stage for John the Baptist's powerful and transformative ministry. John preached a message of "baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Luke 3:3), fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy (Luke 3:4-6). His message was not merely religious ritual but a call for genuine transformation, challenging people to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8) and warning against false security based on ancestry. This provocative message drew diverse groups, including tax collectors and soldiers. In response to his preaching, the crowds, and specifically, the tax collectors in Luke 3:12, sought concrete ethical guidance. Historically and culturally, tax collectors (telōnai) were Jewish agents who collected taxes for the Roman occupiers. They often did so through extortion and corruption, paying a fixed sum to Rome and then enriching themselves by overcharging the populace. This made them deeply despised, socially outcast, and religiously ostracized, often considered collaborators with the oppressive foreign power and ritually unclean due to their interactions with Gentiles and illicit gains. Their willingness to seek baptism and ask for specific ethical instruction underscores the profound impact of John's message and their genuine desire for redemption, defying societal and religious expectations about who could respond to God's call. There is a direct challenge to the exclusionary mindset of the religious elite who considered such individuals beyond God's reach.

Luke 3 12 Word analysis

• Then: This conjunction indicates a sequence of events, showing the tax collectors' arrival as a direct consequence or continuation of the crowds' previous interaction with John the Baptist. It highlights their response to John's general call for repentance.
• tax collectors: The Greek word is telōnai (τελώναι), plural of telōnēs. These individuals were notorious in Judean society, agents responsible for collecting various taxes for the Roman government. Their reputation was one of greed, dishonesty, and oppression, often viewed as traitors who collaborated with the foreign power. Their willingness to come to John for baptism signifies a profound shift and an openness to God's transforming power, challenging common perceptions of their moral condition.
• also came: The inclusion of "also" (Greek: kai, καί) emphasizes that even these individuals, often deemed irredeemable and religiously impure, were drawn to John's message and included among those seeking repentance. This points to the expansive nature of God's call and the unexpected recipients of His grace.
• to be baptized: The Greek infinitive is baptisthēnai (βαπτισθῆναι), denoting purpose – they came for the purpose of being immersed in water by John, a public sign of repentance and cleansing from sin. This act, for them, would be a public repudiation of their former ways and an embrace of a new, righteous path.
• saying to him: This phrase shows a direct and personal address to John. It indicates a readiness to submit to his teaching and a desire for specific, authoritative guidance regarding their changed lives.
• Teacher: The Greek word is Didaskale (Διδάσκαλε), vocative form of didaskalos, meaning "teacher" or "master." By using this title, they acknowledged John's authority and wisdom, seeking his instruction as disciples would from a rabbi. This demonstrates a humble posture of learning and a readiness to receive specific directives for living righteously.
• what shall we do?: The Greek is ti poiēsōmen (τί ποιήσωμεν). This is a deliberative subjunctive question, indicating an earnest search for practical, actionable steps to live out their repentance in their daily lives, specifically within their controversial profession. It is not a casual question but a heartfelt plea for clear direction on how to produce the "fruits of repentance" John had called for (Luke 3:8), especially relevant for a profession inherently prone to ethical compromise.

Luke 3 12 Bonus section

• The willingness of the tax collectors to come for baptism and seek specific ethical guidance underscores the true conviction wrought by John's preaching, distinguishing them from those who might seek baptism for superficial reasons or self-righteousness.
• The question "what shall we do?" echoes through biblical narratives as a common response of individuals who are genuinely convicted of their sin and seek God's way (e.g., Acts 2:37 for the Pentecost crowd, Acts 9:6 for Saul/Paul). This establishes a pattern of genuine conversion involving not just belief but active seeking of practical righteousness.
• This verse implicitly challenges the prevailing Jewish understanding that one's status or lineage guaranteed salvation. The tax collectors' repentance demonstrated that what mattered was a transformed heart leading to righteous actions, not social standing or birthright.
• John's instruction, and by extension the Gospel, teaches that God’s standard of righteousness can be applied to any occupation. One doesn't have to quit their job to be godly, but rather perform their duties with integrity and fairness according to God's will.

Luke 3 12 Commentary

Luke 3:12 offers a profound glimpse into the expansive reach of God's grace and the nature of genuine repentance. The appearance of tax collectors, individuals widely scorned as public sinners, highlights John the Baptist's powerful, inclusive ministry. Their request, "Teacher, what shall we do?", signifies more than mere religious curiosity; it is a heart-rending plea born of conviction. This question moves beyond intellectual assent or ritualistic performance, seeking tangible, actionable steps for a transformed life. For tax collectors, their livelihood was interwoven with practices of extortion, so their question specifically pressed for ethical boundaries within their professional sphere. John's answer, in the subsequent verse (Luke 3:13), did not demand that they abandon their profession, but rather reform their conduct within it, instructing them not to "collect any more than you are authorized to." This teaches a vital lesson: true repentance does not always require a radical change in vocation, but always demands a radical change in ethical conduct and heart. It emphasizes that salvation impacts every sphere of life, including one's daily work, calling believers to practice righteousness and justice where they are. This engagement with the marginalized also prefigures Jesus' own ministry of welcoming and transforming sinners, emphasizing God's impartial call to repentance for all.