Matthew 3
3
The Work of John the Baptist
1About that time John the Baptist came and began preaching in the desert area of Judea. 2John said, “Change your hearts and lives because the kingdom of heaven is coming soon.” 3John the Baptist is the one Isaiah the prophet was talking about. Isaiah said:
“This is a voice of a man
who calls out in the desert:
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make the road straight for him.’” Isaiah 40:3
4John’s clothes were made from camel’s hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey. 5Many people went to hear John preach. They came from Jerusalem and all Judea and all the area around the Jordan River. 6They told of the sins they had done, and John baptized them in the Jordan River.
7Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to the place where John was baptizing people. When John saw them, he said: “You are snakes! Who warned you to run away from God’s anger that is coming? 8You must do the things that show that you have really changed your hearts and lives. 9And don’t think that you can say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks. 10The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.# This means that God is ready to punish his people who do not obey him.
11“I baptize you with water to show that your hearts and lives have changed. But there is one coming later who is greater than I am. I am not good enough to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12He will come ready to clean the grain. He will separate the good grain from the chaff. He will put the good part of the grain into his barn. And he will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out.”# This means that Jesus will come to separate the good people from the bad people, saving the good and punishing the bad.
Jesus Is Baptized by John
13At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River. He came to John and wanted John to baptize him. 14But John tried to stop him. John said, “Why do you come to me to be baptized? I should be baptized by you!”
15Jesus answered, “Let it be this way for now. We should do all things that are right.” So John agreed to baptize Jesus.
16Jesus was baptized and came up out of the water. Heaven opened, and he saw God’s Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 17And a voice spoke from heaven. The voice said, “This is my Son and I love him. I am very pleased with him.”
Currently Selected:
Matthew 3: ICB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Matthew 3
3
1 Now in those days, John the Baptist arrived, preaching in the desert of Judea,
2 and saying: "Repent. For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near."
3 For this is the one who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, saying: "A voice crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his paths."
4 Now the same John had a garment made from the hair of camels, and a leather belt around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and the entire region around the Jordan went out to him.
6 And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, acknowledging their sins.
7 Then, seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees arriving for his baptism, he said to them: "Progeny of vipers, who warned to you to flee from the approaching wrath?
8 Therefore, produce fruit worthy of repentance.
9 And do not choose to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God has the power to raise up sons to Abraham from these stones.
10 For even now the axe has been placed at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire.
11 Indeed, I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who will come after me is more powerful than me. I am not worthy to carry his shoes. He will baptize you with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
12 His winnowing fan is in his hand. And he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. And he will gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee, to John at the Jordan, in order to be baptized by him.
14 But John refused him, saying, "I ought to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?"
15 And responding, Jesus said to him: "Permit this for now. For in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all justice." Then he allowed him.
16 And Jesus, having been baptized, ascended from the water immediately, and behold, the heavens were opened to him. And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him.
17 And behold, there was a voice from heaven, saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in