Matthew 3
3
Ministry of John the Baptist
1In those days John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea announcing, 2“Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!” 3He was the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke when he said:
The voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight.”#3.3 Isa 40:3
4John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
5People from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and all around the Jordan River came to him. 6As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 7Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized by John. He said to them, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? 8Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. 9And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire. 11I baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.”
Baptism of Jesus
13At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River so that John would baptize him. 14John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?”
15Jesus answered, “Allow me to be baptized now. This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness.”
So John agreed to baptize Jesus. 16When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him. 17A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”
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Matthew 3: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
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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