Matthew 3
John the Baptist prepares the way
n those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judeaa 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”b 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”c 4John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.d
5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.e 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.f 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.g
11“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.h 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”i
Jesus is baptized in the Jordan
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.j
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.k 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”l
Bible Dictionary· Matthew 3(19)
Bible Characters· Matthew 3(4)
References· Matthew 3
- a
- v.1 — Isaiah 40:3-6, John 1:6-8, Luke 1:13-17, Luke 1:76, Luke 3:1-20, Matthew 11:11, Acts 19:3-4, Acts 13:24-25, Matthew 16:14, Mark 1:15
- b
- v.2 — Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, Daniel 2:44, Matthew 10:7, Luke 24:47, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Matthew 6:10, Acts 3:19, Luke 15:10, Matthew 13:44-45
- c
- v.3 — Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, John 1:23, Mark 1:3, Luke 1:76, Isaiah 57:14-15, Luke 1:17, Luke 3:3-6
- d
- v.4 — 2 Kings 1:8, Zechariah 13:4, Matthew 11:8, Mark 1:6, Leviticus 11:22, Luke 1:17, Malachi 4:5, Revelation 11:3, Deuteronomy 32:13, Matthew 11:18
- e
- v.8 — Luke 3:8, Acts 26:20, 2 Peter 1:4-8, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 1:11, Ephesians 5:9, Isaiah 1:16-17, Jeremiah 36:3, Romans 2:4-7, Jeremiah 26:13
- f
- v.9 — Luke 3:8, Romans 9:7-8, Galatians 3:27-29, John 8:33, Acts 13:26, Galatians 4:22-31, Romans 4:1, Luke 16:24, John 8:39-40, Luke 5:22
- g
- v.10 — John 15:6, Luke 3:9, Matthew 7:19, John 15:2, Luke 13:6-9, Jeremiah 17:8, Ezekiel 15:2-7, Malachi 3:1-3, Psalms 92:13-14, 1 Peter 4:17-18
- h
- v.11 — Isaiah 4:4, Luke 3:16, Acts 1:5, Zechariah 13:9, Acts 2:2-4, Malachi 3:2-4, Mark 1:7-8, Titus 3:5, Acts 11:15-16, 1 Corinthians 12:13
- i
- v.12 — Malachi 4:1, Matthew 13:30, Luke 3:17, Isaiah 41:16, Jeremiah 51:2, Matthew 13:41, Psalms 1:4, Malachi 3:2-3, Jeremiah 7:20, John 15:2
- j
- v.15 — John 4:34, Isaiah 42:21, John 15:10, Luke 1:6, Philippians 2:7-8, John 13:15, Psalms 40:7-8, John 13:7-9, John 8:29, 1 Peter 2:21-24
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