Luke 3:7–14

^7–9When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgment? It’s your life that must change, not your skin. And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as ‘father.’ Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.”

¹⁰The crowd asked him, “Then what are we supposed to do?”

¹¹“If you have two coats, give one away,” he said. “Do the same with your food.”

¹²Tax men also came to be baptized and said, “Teacher, what should we do?”

¹³He told them, “No more extortion—collect only what is required by law.”

¹⁴Soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He told them, “No shakedowns, no blackmail—and be content with your rations.”