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or however much John was moved by what he had just said, the multitudes were even more. They began to question him, "My God man! Then what shall we do?"
“Do? You ask me what to do? Are you stone deaf? What have I been saying? Repent! Change your attitudes. Change your way of life. Ask God to forgive your sins. Let the man who has two tunics share with him who has none, and let him who has food do likewise."
The tax gatherers who had come to be baptized, also begged, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
"Collect no more than what you have been ordered to."
Then some soldiers asked, "What about us, what shall we do?"
Wearily, John responded, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your wages."
These practical, everyday matters were the fruit of repentance? Care for poor people? Do not use people for profit? Do not rob, falsely accuse or seek more than you are due? These are the things of repentance? This did not seem over burdening. Yet the impoverished were everywhere. Tax collectors were the richest people in town. Roman soldiers in charge of enforcing civil law were well known for taking what they want, accusing whomever they chose with impunity and constantly complaining that Caesar did not pay them enough. These were matters, according to this unusual prophet, that interested God. Change in these matters may well indicate a change in the human heart. It would certainly mean a change in human suffering.
