Luk 3:3 | TNotes | STEP | 3:3 people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God: John seems to have adapted the practice of baptism from Jewish rites using water to cleanse, or set apart, people and objects for God’s service (cp. Lev 8:6 ). John called people to repent of their sins and prepare spiritually for the Messiah’s coming. Their baptism publicly demonstrated their repentance and spiritual cleansing.

bLev 8:6►

‏ Luke 3:3

3:3 ^a people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God: John seems to have adapted the practice of baptism from Jewish rites using water to cleanse, or set apart, people and objects for God’s service (cp. Lev 8:6 ^b). John called people to repent of their sins and prepare spiritually for the Messiah’s coming. Their baptism publicly demonstrated their repentance and spiritual cleansing.