John the Baptist Prepares the Way

(A)In those days (B)John the Baptist came preaching in (C)the wilderness of Judea, (D)“Repent, for (E)the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[a] For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

(F)“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
(G)‘Prepare[b] the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’”

Now John wore (H)a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was (I)locusts and (J)wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, (K)confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of (L)the Pharisees and (M)Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, (N)“You brood of (O)vipers! Who warned you to flee from (P)the wrath to come? Bear fruit (Q)in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, (R)‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from (S)these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. (T)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 (U)“I baptize you with water (V)for repentance, but (W)he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you (X)with the Holy Spirit and (Y)fire.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:2 Or the kingdom of heaven has come near
  2. Matthew 3:3 Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness

during (A)the high priesthood of Annas and (B)Caiaphas, (C)the word of God came to (D)John the son of Zechariah in (E)the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming (F)a baptism of repentance (G)for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in (H)the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

(I)“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
(J)‘Prepare the way of the Lord,[a]
    make his paths straight.
(K)Every valley shall be filled,
    (L)and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
(M)and the crooked shall become straight,
    and the rough places shall become level ways,
(N)and all flesh shall see (O)the salvation of God.’”

He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, (P)“You brood of (Q)vipers! Who warned you to flee from (R)the wrath to come? Bear fruits (S)in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, (T)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from (U)these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. (V)Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds asked him, (W)“What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, (X)“Whoever has two tunics[b] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 (Y)Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, (Z)what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, (AA)“Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, (AB)what shall we do?” And he said to them, (AC)“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your (AD)wages.”

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, (AE)whether he might be (AF)the Christ, 16 (AG)John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but (AH)he who is mightier than I is coming, (AI)the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you (AJ)with the Holy Spirit and (AK)fire.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:4 Or crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord
  2. Luke 3:11 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

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