Matthew 3
3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.#3:2 Or has come, or is coming soon.” 3The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”#3:3 Isa 40:3 (Greek version).
4John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize,#3:7 Or coming to be baptized. he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? 8Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11“I baptize with#3:11a Or in. water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.#3:11b Or in the Holy Spirit and in fire. 12He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
15But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.#3:15 Or for we must fulfill all righteousness.” So John agreed to baptize him.
16After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened#3:16 Some manuscripts read opened to him. and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Matthew 3
3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days #Matt. 3:1–12; Mark 1:3–8; Luke 3:2–17; John 1:6–8, 19–28John the Baptist came preaching #Josh. 14:10in the wilderness of Judea, 2and saying, “Repent, for #Dan. 2:44; Mal. 4:6; Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 1:17; 10:9; 11:20; 21:31the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
#Is. 40:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
#Luke 1:76‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”
4Now #2 Kin. 1:8; Zech. 13:4; Matt. 11:8; Mark 1:6John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was #Lev. 11:22locusts and #1 Sam. 14:25, 26wild honey. 5#Mark 1:5Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6#Acts 19:4, 18and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, #Matt. 12:34; Luke 3:7–9“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from #(Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10)the wrath to come? 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9and do not think to say to yourselves, #John 8:33; Acts 13:26; (Rom. 4:1, 11, 16; Gal. 3:29)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. #(Ps. 92:12–14); Matt. 7:19; Luke 13:7, 9; (John 15:6)Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11#Mark 1:4, 8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26; Acts 1:5I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. #(Is. 4:4; John 20:22; Acts 2:3, 4; 1 Cor. 12:13)He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12#Mal. 3:3His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will #Mal. 4:1; Matt. 13:30burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
John Baptizes Jesus
13#Matt. 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21, 22; John 1:31–34Then Jesus came #Matt. 2:22from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
16#Mark 1:10When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw #(Is. 11:2); Luke 3:22; John 1:32; Acts 7:56the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17#John 12:28And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, #Ps. 2:7; Is. 42:1; Mark 1:11; Luke 1:35; 9:35; Col. 1:13“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.