The Fruit of Repentance Is the Expression of True Love!

The Fruit of Repentance Is the Expression of True Love!

“‘What then shall we do?’ the crowd asked. John answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’ Even tax collectors came to be baptized. ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘what should we do?’ ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,’ he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’ He replied, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.’” (Luke 3:10–14)

Let us meditate on this passage and receive its lessons.

(1) The People’s Question: “What Should We Do?”

The first thing that captures my attention is this repeated question:

• “What then shall we do?” (“the crowd,” Luke 3:10)

• “Teacher, what shall we do?” (“the tax collectors,” v.12)

• “And what shall we do?” (“the soldiers,” v.14)

This reminds me of Acts 2:37:

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’”

In both cases—the preaching of John the Baptist (Luke 3) and Peter (Acts 2)—we see two common elements:

1. The Word of God was proclaimed.

2. Those who heard it responded.

In Luke 3, John the Baptist preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (v.3). To those coming to be baptized, he rebuked them, saying:

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ … The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (vv.7–9)

In Acts 2, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, stood up and preached powerfully (vv.14–36).

As a result, the people in both passages responded:

• In Luke 3, the crowds, the tax collectors, and the soldiers asked, “What should we do?”

• In Acts 2, the people asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter answered, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38)

John the Baptist answered:

• To the crowds: “Share your clothes and food.”

• To the tax collectors: “Collect no more than what is required.”

• To the soldiers: “Do not extort money or accuse falsely; be content with your pay.”

All of John’s instructions echo one message:

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Luke 3:8)

(b) The Message of Repentance and Its Fruit

When God’s Word is proclaimed, and people respond, God’s servants—whether John or Peter—call for repentance and the fruit of repentance.

This brings to mind the identical proclamation by John and Jesus:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2; 4:17)

In classical Greek, repent (metanoeō) literally means “to change one’s mind,” but biblically it signifies far more: not merely a mental adjustment or emotional regret, but a complete turning away from sin and guilt, and a total transformation of heart and life wrought by God’s grace—embracing the Messiah by faith.

“The kingdom of heaven is near” explains why we must repent—because when God’s kingdom is fully revealed, those who are righteous will inherit it, and those who are not will be excluded (Matthew 25:31–46). Entrance into that kingdom requires a right relationship with God.

Thus, the kingdom has already come through Jesus—through His teaching, miracles, death, and resurrection—and will come in fullness at the end of the age.

Therefore, John says:

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8).

(2) The Fruit of Repentance

The fruit worthy of repentance—the behavior that shows genuine repentance—was:

• For the crowd: sharing with those in need (v.11)

• For the tax collectors: collecting no more than required (v.13)

• For the soldiers: refraining from extortion or false accusation and being content with their pay (v.14)

In short, these three can be summarized as:

1. Sharing,

2. Not taking more,

3. Being content.

(i) The Life of Sharing (the Crowd) – Luke 3:10–11

John emphasizes that true repentance must be expressed through concrete acts of love and justice.

Good fruit grows from small acts of love.

The “shirt” (Greek chitōn) refers to the undergarment worn beneath the outer cloak (himation). In Palestine’s cold nights, people often wore or carried extra clothing. John therefore exhorts those with abundance to share voluntarily with those in need—especially food—since many around them were poor.

From this we learn a Christian view of possessions: wealth is not meant for hoarding or self-indulgence but should be used justly for one’s needs and generously for others. Only then does wealth gain eternal value (Matthew 25:31–46; 1 Timothy 6:18; James 2:14–16).

(ii) The Life of Restraint (the Tax Collectors) – Luke 3:12–13

Tax collectors were despised by their fellow Jews, viewed as collaborators with Rome and branded as “sinners.” They often exacted more than Rome required, enriching themselves through greed and oppression.

John did not condemn their profession outright but called them to integrity within it: to collect only what was due, to be fair and just.

He sought not to overthrow social systems but to correct corruption at its moral root—human greed.

This principle still applies today: those in power must act fairly, honestly, and lawfully (Leviticus 19:35–36; Proverbs 11:1).

(iii) The Life of Contentment (the Soldiers) – Luke 3:14

The soldiers (Greek stratuōmenoi) were likely local troops under Jewish authority rather than Roman legionaries. Because of their position, they were prone to abuse power—extorting money and making false accusations.

“Do not extort” (Greek diaseiō) literally means “to shake violently” or “to intimidate for money.” “Do not accuse falsely” (sykophanteō) means “to oppress or exploit.” Their low wages tempted them toward corruption.

John urges them to act justly and to be satisfied with their pay—a call for moral reform rooted in repentance.

(b) The Core Message

In short, John’s message to every group was this:

Whatever your occupation, do good, not evil.

The answers John gave to the three groups can be summed up in one sentence:

“Show true love.”

This love is the fruit of repentance—to be borne in each person’s daily life.