Matthew 3
1 About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the Wilderness of Judea:
In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
3 This is he 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.”’
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!”
4 John wore clothing made of camels’ hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him
Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
6 and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 When, however, John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment?
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?
8 Let your life, then, prove your repentance;
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
9 and do not think that you can say among yourselves ‘Abraham is our ancestor,’ for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!
Do not 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.
10 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.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 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.
“I indeed baptize 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 baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
12 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 inextinguishable fire.”
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.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John tried to prevent him. “It is I,” he said, “who need to be baptized by you; why then do you come to me?”
But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
15 “Let it be so for the present,” Jesus answered, “since it is fitting for us thus to satisfy every claim of religion.” Upon this, John consented.
But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
16 After the baptism of Jesus, and just as he came up from the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending, like a dove, and alighting upon him,
Jesus, when he was baptized, 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.
17 and from the heavens there came a voice which said: “This is my son, the Beloved, in whom I delight.”
Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
