This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks will take you to additional translations. The entire chapter is included to provide context.
Information about the meaning the original Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue. They are provided beneath the specific reading they relate to.
Excerpts collected in yellow at the end of this post tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.
Excerpts collected in green at the end of this post tell us about something God wants us to do.
Excerpts collected in red at the end of this post tell us about something God does not want us to do.
Hyperlinks to other posts addressing similar principles are provided at the end of this post.
Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?”
He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.
Produce= ποιέω = poieō Blue Letter Bible to do, make; used of spending a time or tarrying, in a place; to acquire, to provide a thing for one's self; to produce, bear, shoot forth; to carry out, to execute; to celebrate, keep; to perform; abide; continue; perform; to labor, to do work; to be operative, exercise activity; accomplish Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon make, produce; create, bring into existence; bring about, cause;make, render;do; practice;to be doing, act; be efficacious
fruit = καρπός = karpos Blue Letter Bible that which is produced by the inherent energy of a living organism; the visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly; advantage, profit;sanctification; that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result;work, act, deed; utility; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon the fruits of the earth, corn, harvest, produce; taxes paid in kind; seed with seed-vessel;returns, profits; reward
be satisfied = ἀρκέω = arkeō Blue Letter Bible Content (To Be), Contentment, to be satisfied, contented with;o be satisfied, to be contented; to suffice, to be sufficient, to be possessed of sufficient strength; to be possessed of unfailing strength; to defend, ward off;to bear the evil manfully Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexiconto ward off, keep off;to defend, assist, succor;to be strong enough, to be sufficient, to suffice; avail, hold out; to be satisfied with; content
What this gospel tells us about God/His ways:
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones
every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire
one mightier than I is coming
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire
he preached good news to the people.
What this gospel tells us to do:
Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance
produce good fruit
share with the person who has none
be satisfied with your wages
What this gospel tells us not to do:
do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father
does not produce good fruit
Stop collecting more than what is prescribed
Do not practice extortion
do not falsely accuse anyone
Posts addressing similar principles:
What we can learn about fruitfulness from John 15
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