Matthew 3
3
1Some time later John the Baptist appeared on the scene, proclaiming in the Judean desert, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has arrived!”#3:2. “Has arrived.” The verb used here is in the perfect (i.e. past) tense, indicating the event has already happened. The word itself means “to approach,” or in older language, “draw near.” However, if something “has approached” then it “has arrived.” Also in 4:17, 10:7. 3He was the one Isaiah spoke about when he said, “A voice is heard crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make the paths straight for him.’”#3:3. See Isaiah 40:3.
4John had clothes made of camel hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts#3:4. Probably locust beans. and wild honey. 5People came to him from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the entire Jordan region, 6and were baptized in the Jordan River, publicly admitting their sins.
7But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You vipers' brood! Who warned you to run away from the coming judgment?#3:7. Literally, “wrath.” 8Show by what you do that you have truly repented,#3:8. Literally, “Produce fruit worthy of repentance.” 9and don't presume to say proudly to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God could make children of Abraham from these stones. 10In fact the ax is ready to chop down the trees. Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11Yes, I baptize you in water to show repentance, but after me is coming one who is greater than I am. I'm not worthy even to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12He has his winnowing tool#3:12. Used after harvest to separate the grain from the chaff. ready in his hand. He will clean up the threshing floor and gather the wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn the chaff with fire that can't be put out.”
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to change his mind. He told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me to baptize you?”
15“Please do so, because it's good for us to do what God says is right,” Jesus told him. So John agreed to do it.
16Immediately after he was baptized, Jesus came out of the water. The heavens were opened, and he saw God's Spirit like a dove descending, landing on him. 17A voice from heaven said, “This is my son whom I love,#3:17. Or “This is my son, the beloved one.” who pleases me.”
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
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."
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