Matthew 3
3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2and saying, āRepent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.ā 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
āA voice of one calling in the wilderness,
āPrepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.āāā#3:3 Isaiah 40:3
4Johnās clothes were made of camelās hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: āYou brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, āWe have Abraham as our father.ā I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11āI baptize you with#3:11 Or in water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with#3:11 Or in the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.ā
The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, āI need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?ā
15Jesus replied, āLet it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.ā Then John consented.
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, āThis is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.ā
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The Holy Bible, New International VersionĀ® NIVĀ®
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Matthew 3
3
The Preaching of John the Baptist
(Mark 1.1-8; Luke 3.1-18; John 1.19-28)
1Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea. 2#Mt 4.17; Mk 1.15. He said, āTurn back to God! The kingdom of heaven#3.2 kingdom of heaven: In the Gospel of Matthew ākingdom of heavenā is used with the same meaning as āGod's kingdomā in Mark and Luke. will soon be here.ā#3.2 will soon be here: Or āis already here.ā
3 # Is 40.3 (LXX). John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said,
āIn the desert someone
is shouting,
āGet the road ready
for the Lord!
Make a straight path
for him.ā ā
4 #
2 K 1.8. John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.
5From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John. 6They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.
7 #
Mt 12.34; 23.33. 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? 8Do something to show you have really given up your sins. 9#Jn 8.33. 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#Mt 7.19. 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.
11I baptize you with water so you will give up your sins.#3.11 so you will give up your sins: Or ābecause you have given up your sins.ā But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.#3.11 carry his sandals: This was one of the duties of a slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12#Ws 5.14,23. His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks.#3.12 His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks: After Jewish farmers had trampled out the grain, they used a large fork to pitch the grain and the husks into the air. Wind would blow away the light husks, and the grain would fall back to the ground, where it could be gathered up. 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)
13Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John kept objecting and said, āI ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?ā
15Jesus answered, āFor now this is how it should be, because we must do all God wants us to do.ā Then John agreed.
16So 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#Gn 22.2; Ps 2.7; Is 42.1; Mt 12.18; 17.5; Mk 1.11; Lk 9.35. Then a voice from heaven said, āThis is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.ā
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