Luke 3:13He said to them, "Collect no more than that which is appointed to you."
The setting
Jordan River valley, ~28 AD. Tax collectors—despised by Jews as Roman collaborators—approach John the Baptist for baptism. Near modern-day Jordan/Israel border...
The emotion here: bold but compassionate—confronting corruption with hope for change
The original word
pleon (πλέον) — more, beyond what is commanded or due
Why it matters
Tax collectors bought the right to collect taxes and kept whatever they collected above the required amount
Read with care
What most readers miss in Luke 3:13
These tax collectors were essentially licensed extortionists asking how to be honest
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about taxes, but John is addressing systemic corruption. Tax collectors were asking how to completely change their business model.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Luke 3:13
Bible Genome reading
Luke 3:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Luke 3:13 comes from the book of Luke, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to John the Baptist. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 35% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include honesty, integrity. Notable phrases: collect no more than appointed. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does Luke 3:13 mean to you, today?
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