Luke 3:13
And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Luke 3:13
And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
John the Baptist isn't condemning the job of tax collector itself, but the pervasive greed and extortion that was common to the profession. He’s pointing out that they should simply collect what the government legitimately requires, rather than taking advantage of their position to enrich themselves unjustly.
John the Baptist is preaching a baptism of repentance, calling out the religious elite for their hypocrisy. When tax collectors and soldiers come to him asking what they should do, John addresses their specific professions. He tells the tax collectors to be honest and collect only what is legally due, not to engage in the greedy overcharging that made their profession so despised.
Tax collectors were universally hated. But was their job inherently sinful? John the Baptist's counsel reveals a surprising nuance.
When the tax collectors asked John what they should do, his answer wasn't to abandon their profession. Instead, he told them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do." This is crucial! John didn't condemn the office of tax collecting, even though it was often abused and hated by the people.
Why is this important?
John the Baptist was baptizing people and calling them to repent. What does 'repentance' actually look like for someone in a dishonest profession?
John's baptism was a public declaration of repentance – a turning away from sin and towards God. When the tax collectors asked, "What shall we do?" John didn't just say, 'Stop being greedy.' He gave them a concrete action that demonstrated a changed heart:
The Roman Empire relied on a 'tax farming' system where collectors often abused their power. John's instruction to tax collectors was a direct call to integrity, highlighting that true repentance involves ethical conduct in one's profession.
c. AD 28
John the Baptist begins ministry
John the Baptist starts preaching a message of repentance and baptizing in the Jordan River, calling people to prepare the way for the Messiah. This marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, as Luke 3:1-2 indicates.
c. AD 28— this verse
John confronts tax collectors
When tax collectors (publicans) come to be baptized, John directly addresses their profession. He instructs them not to extort more money than is officially appointed by the Roman authorities.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' public ministry
Jesus travels and teaches throughout Galilee and Judea, performing miracles and calling disciples. His ministry often intersects with tax collectors, whom he calls to follow him, transforming their lives.
John the Baptist’s confrontational approach to the Pharisees and Sadducees, calling them 'offspring of vipers,' sets a precedent for directly addressing the sins and hypocrisy of those who claim religious affiliation but lack genuine repentance.
Luke 3:10The question from the crowds, 'What then shall we do?', directly follows John's stern warning and highlights the need for practical, life-altering responses to repentance, which Luke 3:13 addresses for the tax collectors.
Romans 13:7This passage echoes the principle that civil authorities are established by God, and therefore, fulfilling our obligations to them, including paying taxes, is a matter of obedience to God, provided those obligations are just and appointed.
Luke 19:8Zacchaeus's immediate and drastic action to repay any ill-gotten gains fourfold after encountering Jesus demonstrates the tangible fruits of repentance that John the Baptist also called for, contrasting with the habitual greed of tax collectors.
1 Timothy 5:18This verse underscores the legitimacy of fair compensation for those who labor, including tax collectors, implying that while the *office* is valid, the *abuse* of that office, like extortion, is what John condemns.
barnesLuke 3:13: "And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you."
Exact - Demand, or take, no more. Than that which is appointed - That is, by the government. John does not condemn the office, or say that the employment should be forsaken. Though it was hated by the people - though often abused and therefore unpopular - yet "the office itself" was not dishonorable. If there is a government, it must be supported; and of course there must be people whose duty it is to collect ta…
cambridgeLuke 3:13: "And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you."
13 . Exact no more ] This was their habitual sin, and later historians often allude to the immodestia (i. e. the extravagant greed) of the publicans and their cruel exactions (Caes. Bell. Civ. iii. 32). The cheating and meddling for which Zacchaeus promised fourfold restoration ( Luke 19:8 ) were universal among them.
John the Baptist isn't condemning the job of tax collector itself, but the pervasive greed and extortion that was common to the profession. He’s pointing out that they should simply collect what the government legitimately requires, rather than taking advantage of their position to enrich themselves unjustly.
John the Baptist is preaching a baptism of repentance, calling out the religious elite for their hypocrisy. When tax collectors and soldiers come to him asking what they should do, John addresses their specific professions. He tells the tax collectors to be honest and collect only what is legally due, not to engage in the greedy overcharging that made their profession so despised.
John the Baptist is preaching a baptism of repentance, calling out the religious elite for their hypocrisy. When tax collectors and soldiers come to him asking what they should do, John addresses their specific professions. He tells the tax collectors to be honest and collect only what is legally due, not to engage in the greedy overcharging that made their profession so despised.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Luke 3:13 is available in the Sola app.
"And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”" — John the Baptist isn't condemning the job of tax collector itself, but the pervasive greed and extortion that was common to the profession. He’s pointing out that they should simply collect what…