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
The Preaching of John the Baptist
(Mk 1.1–8; Lk 3.1–18; Jn 1.19–28)
1At that time John the Baptist came to the desert of Judah and started preaching. 2#Mt 4.17; Mk 1.15“Turn away from your sins,” he said, “because the Kingdom of heaven is near!” 3#Is 40.3 (LXX)John was the man the prophet Isaiah was talking about when he said:
“Someone is shouting in the desert,
‘Prepare a road for the Lord;
make a straight path for him to travel!’ ”
4 #
2 Kgs 1.8
John's clothes were made of camel's hair; he wore a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5People came to him from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judea, and from all the country near the River Jordan. 6They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan.
7 #
Mt 12.34; 23.33 When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, “You snakes — who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? 8Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. 9#Jn 8.33And don't think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these stones and make descendants for Abraham! 10#Mt 7.19The axe is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire. 11I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. 12He has his winnowing shovel with him to thresh out all the grain. He will gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.”
The Baptism of Jesus
(Mk 1.9–11; Lk 3.21–22)
13At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14But John tried to make him change his mind. “I ought to be baptized by you,” John said, “and yet you have come to me!”
15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.” So John agreed.
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and alighting on him. 17#Gen 22.2; Ps 2.7; Is 42.1; Mt 12.18; 17.5; Mk 1.11; Lk 9.35Then a voice said from heaven, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased.”
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.