Matthew 3 - NKJV Bible Online

Matthew 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In those days ^aJohn the Baptist came preaching ^bin the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for ^athe kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

^a“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

^b‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.’ ”

4 Now ^aJohn himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was ^blocusts and ^cwild honey. 5 ^aThen Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 ^aand 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, ^a“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from ^bthe wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ^a‘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. ^aTherefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 ^aI 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. ^bHe will baptize you with the Holy Spirit ¹and fire. 12 ^aHis 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 ^bburn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John Baptizes Jesus

13 ^aThen Jesus came ^bfrom Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to 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 ^aWhen He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and ¹He saw ^bthe Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 ^aAnd suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ^b“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

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