Matthew 3

The Person of John the Baptist

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,2 and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.4 Now John himself was clothed in camels hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

The Preaching of John the Baptist

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,9 and do not think to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?15 But Jesus answered and said to him, Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him.16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

MATTHEW 3

The Preaching of John //the Baptist

(Mark 1.1-8; Luke 3.1-18; John 1.19-28)

1 Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea.

2 t He said, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heavent will soon be here.”t

3  t John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said,
“In the desert someone
is shouting,
‘Get the road ready
for the Lord!
Make a straight path
for him.’ ”

4  t John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.
5 From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John.

6 They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.

7  t Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them:
You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? 8 Do something to show you have really given up your sins. 9 t And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.

10 t An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.
11 I baptize you with water so you will give up your sins.t But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.t He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

12 t His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks.t He will store the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out.

The Baptism of Jesus

(Mark 1.9-11; Luke 3.21,22)

14 But John kept objecting and said, “I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?”

15 Jesus answered, “For now this is how it should be, because we must do all God wants us to do.” Then John agreed.
16 So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. 17 t Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.”