He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”
Parallel translations
- KJV He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
- BSB John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”
- NKJV He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
- NASB And he would answer and say to them, “The one who has two tunics is to share with the one who has none; and the one who has food is to do likewise.”
- NLT John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John tells the crowds that repentance shows itself in generosity—sharing clothing and food with the needy. Faith expresses itself in practical love.
Overview
John applies repentance to ordinary life: the one with two coats or extra food should share with those who have none. This is not a way to earn salvation but the fruit that genuine repentance produces. It echoes the law's care for the poor and foreshadows the self-giving love that marks Christ's kingdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Isa 58:7–11Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?
- 1 Jn 3:17But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
- 1 Tim 6:18that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
- Luke 18:22When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me.”
- 1 Jn 4:20If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
- Jas 2:15–26And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
- Jas 1:27Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
- Dan 4:27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
- Matt 25:40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
- Luke 11:41But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.
- Acts 10:31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.
- Luke 19:8Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.”
- John 13:29For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, “Buy what things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
- Acts 10:2a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
- Mark 14:5–8For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor.” They grumbled against her.
- Heb 6:10For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.
- Acts 10:4He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.
- 2 Cor 8:3–14For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 3:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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