The Counselor
Excerpt
John took time to counsel people personally and prepare them for baptism and their new life of faith. He admonished the people in general to be generous and share what they have (Acts 2:44–45;4:32–37). He charged the tax collectors to be honest and the soldiers to be just. (Perhaps he knew that the soldiers and publicans worked together to extort money from the people.) Luke mentions tax collectors three other times (5:27; 15:1; 19:2). These soldiers were not likely Romans (see however Matt. 8:5–13), but were probably Jewish soldiers belonging to the temple guard or the court of Herod. It is interesting that John did not condemn the tax collectors’ and soldiers’ professions; he simply told the publicans and soldiers to do their jobs honestly and not to hurt people. They could remain in their vocations and serve God. More
Wiersbe, Warren W. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992. Print.
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