MATTHEW 3

  1.  In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea

  2.  and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heavens is near."

  3.  This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the

       desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him."

  4.  Johns clothes were made of camels hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His

       food was locusts and wild honey.

  5.  People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.

  6.  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

  7.  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing,

       he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

  8.  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

  9.  And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that

       out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

10.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit

       will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11.  "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful

      than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with

      fire.

12.  His winnonwing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat

       into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

13.  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

14.  But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to

      me?"

15.  Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."

      Then John consented.

16.  As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was

       opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

17.  And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."