Matthew 3
1 In those days, John the Baptiser came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea:
2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!”
John was the one who was spoken of in the prophet Isaiah, where he says – “The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
John’s clothes were made of camels’ hair, with a leather strap round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him
6 They were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them, ‘You children of snakes! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?
8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
Let your life, then, prove your repentance;
9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
and do not think that you can say among yourselves “Abraham is our ancestor,” for I tell you that out of these stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!
10 Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I indeed baptise you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you in the Holy Spirit.
I, indeed, baptize you with water to teach repentance; but he who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with a fire that cannot be put out.’
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised by him.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptised by you, and you come to me?”
But John tried to prevent him. ‘I need to be baptized by you,’ he said, ‘so why have you come to me?’
15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
‘This is the way it should be for now,’ Jesus answered, ‘because we should do everything that God requires.’ So John agreed.
16 Jesus, when he was baptised, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
After the baptism of Jesus, and just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him,
17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
and from the heavens there came a voice which said, ‘This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.’
