LUKE 3:10-18 WHAT SHALL WE DO THEN?

LUKE 3:10-18

WHAT SHALL WE DO THEN?

Luke 3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

Susie: Since John the Baptist had just compared them all to poisonous snakes, warned them of the wrath of God, and encouraged them to bear good fruit, the people wisely asked what kind of works they needed to do to prove their repentance. What did he mean by bear good fruit?

Susan: John addressed those who asked him, pointing out the potential “Achilles heel” of each group, the sin that would entangle them the most. Each group was looking for an escape hatch to free them from God’s wrath.

Susie: John answered them with specific tasks necessary to demonstrate their change of heart to follow the Lord rather than their own ways.

John 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Susie: The first answer is to the crowd at large. He urges them not to hoard their surplus goods but to share with those in need. A person could only wear one tunic or outer garment at a time. Therefore, if he had two, he could share. If a family had plenty of food, they should be providing for a family who had none.

Susan: John wants them to be primarily distributors of God’s rich blessings and consumers only secondarily.

Luke 3:12-13 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.

Susie: Publicans were Jewish men who worked for the Roman government collecting taxes. They were notorious for taking more than the amount of the tax in order to make themselves rich.

Susan: John told them to resist taking undo advantage of the people because of their position. He told them to take only what the Roman government required and not charge extra.

Luke 3:14 And 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.

Susie: These soldiers were probably soldiers that served Herod the Tetrarch, the ruler of Galilee, rather than the occupying Roman forces.  They would use their power to take money from people or make false arrests to make themselves look good.

Susan: John told them to cease wielding their power for personal gain. They were paid wages and should not use their positions to line their own pockets to the detriment of the people.

Luke 3:15-16 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Susan: The people were sizing John up to discern whether or not he was the long-awaited Messiah.

Susie: John realized what they were thinking about him, and explained that Someone greater than him was yet to come. He said he would not be worthy to untie the Messiah’s sandals, a job done by the lowest household slave in preparation for washing a guest’s feet. In other words, John identified himself as a servant of the One to come.

Susan: John baptized the people as a picture of their repentance and God’s washing away their sins. It was an outward sign of their inward commitment to God and His way of doing things.

Susie: John the Baptist explained that the One to come after him would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Susan: The Holy Spirit is now God’s manifest presence no longer being alongside the believer but indwelling the believer. Jesus promised to send this Holy Spirit:

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Susan: The Holy Spirit comforts and teaches believers, but He also enables us to be Christ’s “witnesses”, a word that can be translated “martyrs.”

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Susan: The Holy Spirit came upon the first followers of Jesus during the feast of Pentecost, but He now enters into a person the moment he or she trusts Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Susie: The baptism of the Holy Spirit did involve fire, but fire can also be a sign of judgement. I think John’s point was that he baptized with water only, as a symbol of repentance and cleansing; but when Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit, He infused the believers with power.

Luke 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

Susie: Winnowing wheat was a process to separate the good kernels of wheat from the chaff that was later burned up as useless while the wheat kernels were stored in the barns. Jesus will ultimately separate the true believers from the non-believers. Those who have never trusted Jesus will be thrown into unquenchable fire while those who have followed Him will live with Him forever in Heaven. 

Luke 3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

Susie: Luke has given a summary of John the Baptist’s teaching but tells us he preached other things about the kingdom of God and preparing for Messiah as well.

Susan: Jesus is the great separator. There is no sitting on the fence line with Jesus. You are either His and with Him or you are not His and are against Him.

QUESTIONS

1.               John the Baptist gave specific instructions to people about areas that needed to change in their lives. List the actions he urged his listeners to change.

2.               Is the Holy Spirit prompting you to change a specific behavior? Pray for His power to enable you to do so.

3.               Why is it significant that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit?