Matthew 3
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 Baptism of Jesus
13 aThen Jesus came bfrom Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 aJohn would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, athe heavens were opened to him, and he bsaw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, aa voice from heaven said, b“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.