Luke 3 13

Luke 3:13 kjv

And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

Luke 3:13 nkjv

And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."

Luke 3:13 niv

"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.

Luke 3:13 esv

And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do."

Luke 3:13 nlt

He replied, "Collect no more taxes than the government requires."

Luke 3 verses

Luke 3 13 Meaning

Luke 3:13 conveys John the Baptist's instruction to the crowd on how to demonstrate genuine repentance: by sharing their surplus of essential necessities, specifically clothing and food, with those who lack them. This command emphasizes practical charity, social responsibility, and a transformed lifestyle that moves beyond personal acquisition to active care for the needy, serving as tangible evidence of a changed heart.

Luke 3 13 Context

Luke 3:13 is part of John the Baptist's powerful message delivered to various groups who came to him seeking baptism in the Jordan wilderness. John had just publicly rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees, warning them not to rely on their lineage to Abraham, but to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8). The crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers, convicted by his preaching, each asked, "What then shall we do?" (Luke 3:10, 12, 14). This specific verse, Luke 3:13, is John's answer to the general "crowds" (Luke 3:10), providing concrete, ethical instructions for their daily lives. His directives emphasize practical, societal changes as evidence of genuine inner transformation and adherence to God's will, prefiguring the ethical demands of Jesus' own teachings.

Luke 3 13 Word analysis

• He answered (ἀποκριθεὶς, apokritheis): A participle indicating a direct and authoritative reply to the crowd's question, "What then shall we do?" It highlights John's role as a prophet speaking God's word with instruction and command, not merely suggestion.
• Whoever has (ὁ ἔχων, ho echon): Lit. "the one having." Refers to anyone possessing a surplus, irrespective of their social status, income, or occupation. The focus is on what one has, rather than who one is.
• two tunics (δύο χιτῶνας, duo chitōnas): A chitōn was a basic garment, a loose-fitting tunic worn next to the skin, often as an undergarment. While wealthy people might have multiple elaborate tunics, even a poor laborer would likely own at least one. To possess two suggests having a surplus beyond immediate personal need, implying more than basic necessity. This isn't a call for destitution but for sharing of abundance.
• is to share (μεταδότω, metadotō): From the Greek verb metadidomi, meaning "to impart," "to give a share of," or "to distribute." This is an imperative command, conveying a strong moral obligation for active participation in alleviating the needs of others. It implies generosity and distribution, not just holding on to what is not immediately needed.
• with him who has none (τῷ μὴ ἔχοντι, tō mē echonti): Lit. "to the one not having." This phrase clearly identifies the recipient as someone genuinely impoverished, lacking even fundamental necessities. John emphasizes helping those truly destitute, focusing on fundamental needs.
• and whoever has food (καὶ ὁ ἔχων βρώματα, kai ho echōn brōmata): Extends the principle from clothing to food, another essential necessity. Brōmata refers to any eatable provisions or general nourishment. This shows the universality of the principle—it applies to all basic life-sustaining resources.
• is to do likewise (ὁμοίως ποιείτω, homoiōs poietō): Lit. "let him do similarly." This imperative reinforces that the same ethical standard of sharing applies broadly to any surplus of fundamental needs, not just to the specific examples of tunics and food. It establishes a general principle of practical generosity and communal responsibility.

Words-group analysis:

• "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none": This phrase establishes a tangible, practical demonstration of repentance. It directly challenges the common human tendency towards accumulation and highlights that having a surplus brings a responsibility towards those in genuine deprivation. It's a foundational instruction on neighborly love made concrete.
• "and whoever has food is to do likewise": This second phrase extends the principle beyond the specific example of clothing, demonstrating that the command to share applies broadly to all essential provisions. It universalizes the ethical demand for active charity, showing that genuine repentance involves a generous and responsible attitude towards all material blessings one possesses beyond immediate needs.

Luke 3 13 Bonus section

• John the Baptist's teachings here represent a prophetic challenge to individualistic accumulation, urging a more communal and responsible approach to resources, deeply rooted in Old Testament principles of social justice and care for the vulnerable.
• While not demanding total divestment (as some later monastic traditions might advocate based on other Gospel passages), this command asks for a willing distribution of surplus that genuinely aids others. It targets the "more than enough" rather than the essential livelihood.
• This instruction forms a crucial ethical groundwork for the subsequent teachings of Jesus and the practices of the early Christian community, particularly as depicted in the book of Acts, where sharing and communal care were hallmark characteristics.

Luke 3 13 Commentary

Luke 3:13 captures a fundamental aspect of John the Baptist's message: that repentance is not merely an inner feeling or a religious ritual, but a tangible transformation of one's life, demonstrated through ethical action and social responsibility. When the crowds ask what they should do, John gives practical instructions that directly address issues of injustice and selfishness common in his society. His specific command to share surplus clothing and food underscores that true repentance demands a radical generosity towards the poor and needy. It challenges individuals to reconsider their possessions not solely as personal entitlements, but as resources to be stewarded for the common good, particularly for those in most dire need. This teaching highlights the practical outworking of love and justice, directly prefiguring Jesus' emphasis on serving the marginalized and using wealth responsibly within the Kingdom of God. It calls for genuine compassion manifested through actions that alleviate suffering and address basic human needs, distinguishing authentic faith from mere religious profession.