The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Matthew 03
1 In those days, John the Baptizer came,
preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is
at hand!”
3 For this is he who was spoken of by
Isaiah the prophet, saying,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
make the way of the Lord ready!
Make his paths straight!”*
4 Now John himself wore clothing made
of camel’s hair with a leather belt around
his waist. His food was locusts and wild
honey.
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of
Judea, andallthe regionaroundthe Jordan
went out to him.
6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan,
confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many ofthe Pharisees
and Sadducees coming for his baptism,
he said to them, “You offspring of vipers,
who warned you to flee from the wrath to
come?
8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have
Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that
God is able to raiseup childrento Abraham
from these stones.
10 Even now the ax lies at the root of the
trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t
produce good fruit is cut down, and cast
into the fire.
11 “I indeed baptize you in water for
repentance, but he who comes after me is
mightier than I, whose sandals I am not
worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the
Holy Spirit.†
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and
he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing
floor. He will gather his wheat into the
barn, but the chaff he will burn up with
unquenchable fire.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the
Jordan‡ to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John would have hindered him,
saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and
you come to me?”
15 But Jesus, answering, said to him,
“Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for
us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he
allowed him.
16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up
directly from the water: and behold, the
heavens were opened to him. He saw the
Spirit of God descending as a dove, and
coming on him.
17 Behold, a voice out oftheheavens said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am
well pleased.”