Matthew 3:1-12
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
aIn those days bJohn the Baptist came preaching in cthe wilderness of Judea, 2 a“Repent, for bthe kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
a“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
b‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore aa garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was blocusts and cwild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, aconfessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of athe Pharisees and bSadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, c“You brood of dvipers! Who warned you to flee from ethe wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit ain keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, a‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from bthese stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. aEvery tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 a“I baptize you with water bfor repentance, but che who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you dwith the Holy Spirit and efire. 12 His awinnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and bgather his wheat into the barn, cbut the chaff he will burn with dunquenchable fire.” The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.