Matthew 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

John Prepares the Way

(Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–18; John 1:19–28)

1Later, John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea. His message was, 2“Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3Isaiah the prophet spoke about this man when he said,

“A voice cries out in the desert:

‘Prepare the way for the Lord!

Make his paths straight!’ ”

4John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.

5Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him. 6As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God’s coming anger? 8Do those things that prove you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. 9Don’t think you can say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor.’ I can guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. 10The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire. 11I baptize you with water so that you will change the way you think and act. But the one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing #3:12 Winnowing is the process of separating husks from grain. shovel is in his hand, and he will clean up his threshing floor.#3:12 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks. He will gather his wheat into a barn, but he will burn the husks in a fire that can never be put out.”

John Baptizes Jesus

(Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22)

13Then Jesus appeared. He came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you. Why are you coming to me?”

15Jesus answered him, “This is the way it has to be now. This is the proper way to do everything that God requires of us.”

Then John gave in to him. 16After Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up from the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove to him. 17Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love—my Son with whom I am pleased.”

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