Matthew 3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
In those days, John the
Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent, for the Kingdom of
Heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of
by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
make ready the way of the Lord.
Make his paths straight."
Now John himself wore
clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His
food was locusts and wild honey. Then people from Jerusalem, all of
Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
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? Therefore bring forth fruit worthy
of repentance! 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.
"Even now the axe
lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring
forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes
after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will
baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 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."
The Baptism of Jesus
Then Jesus came from
Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But John would have hindered him,
saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?"
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.
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. Behold, a voice
out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased."
< Previous < || > Next >
[ Chapter
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 ] |
