Shared Word Translation
Matthew 3
John the Baptizer
In those days John the Baptizer came, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.”
For this is he who was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
Now John himself wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “Offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not presume to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one coming after me is stronger than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted him.
And when Jesus was baptized, he went 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 upon him. And behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”