“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.”
John answered, anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same — the first answer is radical generosity: two shirts, share one; extra food, share it. The practical ethics of repentance begin with the redistribution of material goods. The two-shirt/no-shirt contrast captures the economic inequality of the Roman world and makes it an ethical mandate: the person of means must share with the person in need.
Church Fathers on Luke 3:11
In the preceding words of John, it is plain that the hearts of his hearers were troubled, and sought for advice from him. As it is added, And they asked him, saying, &c.
Three classes of men are introduced as inquiring of John concerning their salvation, one which the Scripture calls the multitude, another to which it gives the name of Publicans, and a third which is noticed by the appellation of soldiers.
Now to the Publicans and soldiers he gives a commandment to abstain from evil, but the multitudes, as not living in an evil condition, he commands to perform some good work, as it follows, He that has two coats, let him give one.
Read all 16 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!