Matthew 3

1 About this time, ^{a3:1 Lit. In those days} John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Judean wilderness,ISV — Matthew 3:1

2 “Repent, because the kingdom from ^{b3:2 Lit. of} heaven is near!”ISV — Matthew 3:2

3 He was the one the prophet Isaiah was referring to when he said, “He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord! ^{c3:3 MT and DSS source citations read LORD} Make his paths straight!’” ^{d3:3 Cf. Isa 40:3}ISV — Matthew 3:3

4 John had clothing made of camel’s hair and wore ^{e3:4 The Gk. lacks wore} a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of grasshoppers ^{f3:4 Or locust-shaped carob seed pods} and wild honey.ISV — Matthew 3:4

5 Then the people of ^{g3:5 The Gk. lacks the people of} Jerusalem, all Judea, and the entire region along the Jordan began flocking to him,ISV — Matthew 3:5

6 being baptized by him in the Jordan River while they confessed their sins.ISV — Matthew 3:6

7 But when John ^{h3:7 Lit. he} saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, ^{i3:7 Lit. to his baptism} he told them, “You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?ISV — Matthew 3:7

8 Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance!ISV — Matthew 3:8

9 Don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have father Abraham!’ because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!ISV — Matthew 3:9

10 The ax already lies against the roots of the trees. So every tree that isn’t producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.ISV — Matthew 3:10

11 I am baptizing you with ^{j3:11 Or in} water as evidence of repentance, ^{k3:11 Lit. for repentance} but the one who is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. It is he who will baptize you with ^{l3:11 Or in} the Holy Spirit and fire.ISV — Matthew 3:11

12 His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clean up his threshing floor and gather his grain into the barn, but he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire.” ( ; )ISV — Matthew 3:12

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.ISV — Matthew 3:13

14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?”ISV — Matthew 3:14

15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be this way for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” ^{m3:15 Cf. Dan 9:24} At this, he permitted him to be baptized. ^{n3:15 The Gk. lacks to be baptized}ISV — Matthew 3:15

16 When Jesus had been baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened up for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.ISV — Matthew 3:16

17 Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him!”ISV — Matthew 3:17