Matthew 3:1-12 - John The Baptist Begins His Ministry

¹ And in those days John the Baptist came, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ² "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." ³ For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight."

⁴ Now John himself wore clothing made of camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many of the 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 bring forth fruit worthy of repentance, ⁹ and do not think to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ "And even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.

¹¹ I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire. 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."

¹ The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ² As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Look, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. ³ The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.'"

⁴ John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. ⁶ And John was clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. ⁸ I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit."

¹ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, ² in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. ³ He came into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. ⁵ Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. ⁶ All flesh will see God's salvation.'"

⁷ He said therefore to the crowds who went out to be baptized by him, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father;' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ⁹ Even now the axe also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."

¹⁰ The crowds asked him, "What then must we do?"

¹¹ He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise."

¹² Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"

¹³ He said to them, "Collect no more than that which is appointed to you."

¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?" He said to them, "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages."

¹⁵ As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Messiah, ¹⁶ John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire, ¹⁷ whose fan is in his hand, to thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." ¹⁸ Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, ¹⁹ but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, ²⁰ added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.