Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's really striking here is that the tax collectors, who were universally despised and seen as corrupt, aren't just showing up – they're asking what to do. This isn't just about getting baptized; it's about genuine, active seeking of change, indicating a deep-seated conviction that their current path isn't sustainable.
Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
John the Baptist is confronting the crowds, including religious leaders, with a stark call to repent and bear fruit worthy of that repentance. When tax collectors, a group often viewed with deep suspicion and disdain by their own people due to their perceived greed and association with Roman oppressors, come to be baptized, they humbly ask what they should do. This follows John’s stern warning to them and others that outward profession isn't enough; genuine change must be evident in their actions.
Imagine being part of a group so widely despised that your name became a synonym for evil. That was the reality for tax collectors.
Tax collectors, or publicans, held a deeply loathed position in Jewish society. They were seen as agents of Roman oppression and were notorious for their greed and malpractices, often extorting more than was legally required.
This wasn't just a mild dislike; it was a profound scorn. A strict Jew would find it difficult to even pay taxes, let alone collect them. The word 'publican' became proverbial for the worst kind of person, associated with plunder and unblushing greed.
Yet, here they are, coming to John to be baptized. This signifies a radical willingness to confront their deeply ingrained societal stigma and seek a new path.
Their question isn't a casual inquiry; it's a desperate plea from the heart of a despised group seeking genuine change.
The tax collectors don't just show up; they actively ask, 'Teacher, what shall we do?' This question is crucial because it reveals a desire for concrete action and guidance, not just a ritualistic cleansing. Unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees, who might have relied on their religious pedigree, these tax collectors understand that their profession is inherently problematic and requires a specific response.
John's answer, 'Exact no more than what has been enjoined you,' directly addresses their specific sin. It calls for a halt to their corrupt practices and a commitment to honesty within their already tainted profession. This isn't about quitting their jobs entirely, but about transforming their behavior.
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This interaction highlights that true repentance isn't just about feeling sorry; it's about changing your actions, especially in the areas where you've caused harm.
Understand the original words
telōnai · Greek Noun
A public official, often a Jew, appointed by the Roman government or their agents to collect various taxes; they were frequently despised by their fellow Jews as collaborators with the Roman occupation and often known for extortion and corruption.
baptisthēnai · Greek Verb
The outward sign of repentance and identification with the message of a prophet or the gospel; it signifies a washing away of old ways and a commitment to a new life of righteousness.
didaskale · Greek Noun
A term of respect used for one who instructs; in the Gospels, it is frequently applied to Jesus, acknowledging his authority as a master or teacher of divine truth and law.
The presence of tax collectors, deeply detested by Jewish society as agents of Roman oppression and notorious for their corruption, highlights the radical inclusivity of John's message of repentance. Their question, 'Teacher, what shall we do?', signals a genuine desire for change, challenging the exclusive notions of righteousness held by some religious leaders.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
John the Baptist's Ministry
John the Baptist begins his public ministry in the wilderness of Judea, calling people to repentance and preparing the way for Jesus.
c. 27-30 AD
John's Confrontation with Religious Leaders
John confronts Pharisees and Sadducees, calling them 'offspring of vipers' and demanding genuine repentance, not just outward show.
c. 27-30 AD
John's Instructions to the Multitude
John gives practical advice on repentance to the crowds, including sharing resources and acting justly.
This passage shows John the Baptist directly confronting the Pharisees and Sadducees with a strong warning, similar to how he addresses the masses, highlighting the importance of genuine repentance beyond mere outward show.
Luke 3:10The crowds also ask John, 'What shall we do?' This shows a widespread desire for practical instruction on how to live a repented life, which is echoed by the tax collectors.
Acts 2:37When the crowds hear Peter's message, they are cut to the heart and ask, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' This shows the enduring human need to know how to respond to God's call to repentance.
Matthew 21:32Jesus tells the chief priests and elders that John came to them in the way of righteousness, and they did not believe him, but tax collectors and prostitutes did. This highlights the unexpected groups who responded to John's message, including tax collectors.
Luke 19:8The story of Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, shows a powerful personal transformation that includes giving away possessions and making restitution, demonstrating the practical 'fruits' of repentance that John would have expected.
barnesLuke 3:12: "Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?"
The publicans - See the notes at Matthew 5:47 . There is reason to think that the "publicans" or "tax-gatherers" were especially oppressive and hard in their dealings with the people; and that, as they had every opportunity of exacting more than they ought, so they often did it, and thus enriched themselves. The evidence of repentance in them would be to break off their sins in this respect, and t…
cambridgeLuke 3:12: "Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?"
12 . the publicans ] Rather, tax-gatherers (without the article). The word is a corruption of the Latin publicani ‘farmers of the taxes.’ The Roman government did not collect its own taxes, but leased them out to speculators of the equestrian order, who were called publicani , and who made their own profit out of the transaction. These knights appointed subordinates, who from the unpleasant charac…
What's really striking here is that the tax collectors, who were universally despised and seen as corrupt, aren't just showing up – they're asking what to do. This isn't just about getting baptized; it's about genuine, active seeking of change, indicating a deep-seated conviction that their current path isn't sustainable.
John the Baptist is confronting the crowds, including religious leaders, with a stark call to repent and bear fruit worthy of that repentance. When tax collectors, a group often viewed with deep suspicion and disdain by their own people due to their perceived greed and association with Roman oppressors, come to be baptized, they humbly ask what they should do. This follows John’s stern warning to them and others that outward profession isn't enough; genuine change must be evident in their actions.
John the Baptist is confronting the crowds, including religious leaders, with a stark call to repent and bear fruit worthy of that repentance. When tax collectors, a group often viewed with deep suspicion and disdain by their own people due to their perceived greed and association with Roman oppressors, come to be baptized, they humbly ask what they should do. This follows John’s stern warning to them and others that outward profession isn't enough; genuine change must be evident in their actions.
"Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”" — What's really striking here is that the tax collectors, who were universally despised and seen as corrupt, aren't just showing up – they're asking what to do. This isn't just about getting baptized…
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Last reviewed October 2026