Luke 3:10-14

10-14. We have here a most interesting fragmentary passage, furnished by Luke alone, of the manner in which John strikes at the sins of the times for the purpose of setting things in order for Messiah by reformation. He had bidden the multitude, in Luke 3:8, to bring forth fruits meet for repentance under penalties prescribed in Luke 3:9. In Luke 3:10 they ask him, What shall we do then? that is, as works meet for repentance in order to avoid the threatened wrath. John replies to each question by pointing them to their besetting sins, and enjoining reformation to test the sincerity of their repentance. There is nothing so purely legal in all this as Olshausen represents. There is law in all gospel, and there is gospel in the law. Though the atonement had not been made in the Old Testament times, yet sin was forgiven through the forbearance of God, in view of the atonement. Hence the faith in the Messiah to come as the remitter of sin was mingled with the repentance of John’s dispensation, and it had power to save, when genuine, in its time and kind. The genuineness was to be tested by the bringing forth works meet; that is, by the reformation of sins as prescribed in John’s preaching.

John’s preaching is here given as addressed to three classes: the people, the publicans, the soldiers.