Matthew 3
3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days John the Baptist came and preached in the desert around Judea. 2He said, “Turn away from your sins! The kingdom of heaven is near.” 3John is the one Isaiah the prophet was talking about when he said,
“A messenger is calling out in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ ”
4John’s clothes were made out of camel’s hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey. 5People came out to him from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the whole area around the Jordan River. 6They confessed their sins, and John baptized them in the Jordan.
7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, John said to them, “You little snakes! Who warned you to try to escape the punishment that’s coming? 8If you have turned away from your sins, you have to live in a way that shows that. 9Don’t think you’re safe just because you can say, ‘We come from Abraham.’ I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones. 10The ax is already at the tree roots, and any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11“I’m baptizing you with water so you can show that you’ve turned away from your sins. But someone is coming after me who’s more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12He’ll have a tool with him and use it to sort out everything on his threshing floor. He’ll gather the wheat into his barn, but he’ll burn up the husks in a fire that can’t be put out.”
Jesus Is Baptized
13Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River so that John could baptize him. 14But John didn’t want to. He told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you, so why are you coming to me?”
15Jesus answered, “Please agree to this. It’s right for us to do everything that God is asking of people now.” So then John agreed.
16Right after Jesus was baptized, as he was coming up out of the water, at that moment, heaven was opened and Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. 17A voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son. I’m very pleased with him.”
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Matthew 3
3
The Preaching of John the Baptist
1Now in those days John the Baptist *#3:1 Or arrived; or appearedcame, #3:1 Or proclaiming as a heraldpreaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3For this is the one referred to #3:3 Or throughby Isaiah the prophet when he said,
“The voice of one #3:3 Or shoutingcalling #3:3 Or out, Prepare in the wilderness the wayout in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!’ ”
4Now John himself had #3:4 Lit his garmenta garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan; 6and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for #3:7 Later mss his baptismbaptism, he said to them, “You #3:7 Or broodoffspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance; 9and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham. 10And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.
11“As for me, I baptize you #3:11 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or bywith water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you #3:11 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or bywith the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him. 14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?” 15But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *allowed Him. 16After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and #3:16 Or Hehe saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and #3:16 Lit coming upon Himsettling on Him, 17and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is #3:17 Or My Son, the BelovedMy beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
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