Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 3].
the Pharisees and Sadducees, which see for discussion of details.
Luke gives a summary of his preaching to the crowds with special
replies to these inquiries: the multitudes, 10,11, the
publicans 12,13, the soldiers 14. {To be baptized of him}
(\baptisth•nai hup' autou\). This is the purpose of their coming.
Mt 3:7 has simply "to his baptism." John's metaphors are from
the wilderness (vipers, fruits, axe, slave boy loosing sandals,
fire, fan, thrashing-floor, garner, chaff, stones). {Who warned
you?} (\tis hepedeixen humin;\). The verb is like our "suggest"
by proof to eye, ear, or brain (Lu 6:47; 12:5; Ac 9:16; 20:35;
Mt 3:7). Nowhere else in the N.T. though common ancient word
(\hupodeiknumi\, show under, point out, give a tip or private
hint).
3:10 {Asked} (\ep•r•t•n\). Imperfect tense, repeatedly asked.
{What then must we do?} (\ti oun poi•s•men;\). Deliberative
aorist subjunctive. More exactly, {What then are we to do}, {What
then shall we do?} Same construction in verses 12,14. The \oun\
refers to the severe things already said by John (Lu 3:7-9).
3:11 {Coats} (\chit•nas\). The inner and less necessary
undergarment. The outer indispensable \himation\ is not
mentioned. Note the specific and different message to each class.
John puts his finger on the weaknesses of the people right before
him.
3:12 {Also publicans} (\kai tel•nai\). We have had the word
already in Matthew (Mt 5:46; 9:10; 11:19; 18:17; 21:31f.) and
Mark (Mr 11:15f.). It is sometimes coupled with harlots and
other sinners, the outcasts of society. The word is made up from
\telos\, tax, and \•neomai\, to buy, and is an old one. The
renter or collector of taxes was not popular anywhere, but least
of all when a Jew collected taxes for the Romans and did it by
terrible graft and extortions. {Extort} (\prassete\). The verb
means only to do or practice, but early the tax-collectors
learned how to "do" the public as regular "blood-suckers." Lucian
links them with crows and sycophants.
3:14 {Soldiers also} (\kai strateuomenoi\). Men on service,
_militantes_ rather than _milites_ (Plummer). So Paul in 2Ti
2:4. An old word like \strati•t•s\, soldier. Some of these
soldiers acted as police to help the publicans. But they were
often rough and cruel. {Do violence to no man} (\m•dena
diaseis•te\). Here only in the N.T., but in the LXX and common in
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