Matthew 3

The Ministry of John the Baptist

1 In those days John the Baptist came into the wildernesst of Judea proclaiming,2 “Repent,t for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

3 For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken:t
“The voicetof one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, makeshis paths straight.’”s
4 Now John wore clothing made from camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.s5 Then people from Jerusalem,ts as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him,

6 and he was baptizing themt in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.
7 But when he saw many Phariseess and Sadduceess coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?8 Therefore produce fruits that proves yourt repentance,9 and don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

10 Even now the ax is laid ats the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthyts to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.s

12 His winnowing forks is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse,t but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.”s

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River.t14 But Johns tried to preventt him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”15 So Jesus repliedt to him, “Let it happen now,t for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then Johnt yieldedt to him.16 Aftert Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, thet heavenst openeds and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a doves and coming on him.

17 Andt a voice from heaven said,t “This is my one dear Son;ts in himt I take great delight.”ts

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.”