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Crowds of people came to be baptized by John. He said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who warned you to run away from God’s anger that is coming? You must do the things that will show that you really have changed your hearts. Don’t say, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God can make children for Abraham from these rocks here. The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”[a]

10 The people asked John, “What should we do?”

11 John answered, “If you have two shirts, share with the person who does not have one. If you have food, share that too.”

12 Even tax collectors came to John to be baptized. They said to John, “Teacher, what should we do?”

13 John said to them, “Don’t take more taxes from people than you have been ordered to take.”

14 The soldiers asked John, “What about us? What should we do?”

John said to them, “Don’t force people to give you money. Don’t lie about them. Be satisfied with the pay you get.”

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Footnotes

  1. 3:9 The ax . . . fire. This means that God is ready to punish his people who do not obey him.

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