Matthew 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 In those days *Matt. 3:1–12; Mark 1:3–8; Luke 3:2–17; John 1:6–8, 19–28John the Baptist came preaching *Josh. 14:10in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for *Dan. 2:44; Mal. 4:6; Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 1:17; 10:9; 11:20; 21:31the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

*Is. 40:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

*Luke 1:76‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.’ "

4 Now *2 Kin. 1:8; Zech. 13:4; Matt. 11:8; Mark 1:6John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was *Lev. 11:22locusts and *1 Sam. 14:25, 26wild honey. 5 *Mark 1:5Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 *Acts 19:4, 18and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, *Matt. 12:34; Luke 3:7–9"Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from *(Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10)the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, *John 8:33; Acts 13:26; (Rom. 4:1, 11, 16; Gal. 3:29)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. *(Ps. 92:12–14); Matt. 7:19; Luke 13:7, 9; (John 15:6)Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 *Mark 1:4, 8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26; Acts 1:5I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. *(Is. 4:4; John 20:22; Acts 2:3, 4; 1 Cor. 12:13)He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 *Mal. 3:3His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will *Mal. 4:1; Matt. 13:30burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

John Baptizes Jesus

13 *Matt. 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21, 22; John 1:31–34Then Jesus came *Matt. 2:22from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John triedto prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

16 *Mark 1:10When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw *(Is. 11:2); Luke 3:22; John 1:32; Acts 7:56the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 *John 12:28And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, *Ps. 2:7; Is. 42:1; Mark 1:11; Luke 1:35; 9:35; Col. 1:13"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."