Matthew 3 — EMTV

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3Verse 1In those days John the Baptist arrived preaching in the wilderness of Judea,^{Verse 2}and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”^{Verse 3}For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
“A voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make His paths straight.’ ”^{Verse 4}And John himself had his clothing made from camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.^{Verse 5}Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him^{Verse 6}and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.^{Verse 7}But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{Verse 8}Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance,^{Verse 9}and do not think to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham out of these stones.^{Verse 10}But even now, the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.^{Verse 11}I 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. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit,^{Verse 12}whose winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and He will gather His wheat into the barn; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

^{Verse 13}Then Jesus arrived from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.^{Verse 14}But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”^{Verse 15}But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.^{Verse 16}And having been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him.^{Verse 17}And behold, a voice came out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”