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

¹ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming: ² Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. ³ Isaiah spoke of John when he said: He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight.' (Isaiah 40:3)

⁴ John wore clothes made from camel's hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People from Jerusalem, Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him. ⁶ They confessed their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River.

⁷ He saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism. You offspring of vipers, he said, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit worthy of repentance! ⁹ Do not presume that Abraham is your father. I tell you that God can make descendants for Abraham from these stones! ¹⁰ The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ I baptize you with water because of your repentance. He that comes after me is mightier than I. He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. I am not even good enough to carry his sandals. ¹² His winnowing shovel is in his hand. He will clean his threshing floor and gather his wheat into a barn. He will then burn the husks in a fire that cannot be put out.

¹ The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ² The prophet Isaiah wrote: I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare your way. ³ The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of Jehovah (YHWH), make his paths straight. (Isaiah 40:3)

⁴ John the Baptist was in the desert (wilderness) telling people to repent (turn away from sin) and be baptized for forgiveness of sins. ⁵ People from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John. They confessed their sins and he baptized them in the Jordan River. ⁶ John was clothed in camel's hair with a leather belt about his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He told the people: The man who comes after me is greater than I am. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie his shoes. ⁸ I baptized (immersed) you with water, but he will baptize (Greek: baptizo: immerse, submerge) you with Holy Spirit.

¹ It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea. Herod served as tetrarch of Galilee. Herod's brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene. ² This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness. ³ John traveled in the region near the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. ⁵ Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. ⁶ All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isaiah 40:3-6)

⁷ He told the crowds that came to be baptized by him: You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. ⁹ The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire.

¹⁰ The people asked him: What must we do?

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

¹² Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do?

¹³ He told them: Collect no more than that which is prescribed.

¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him: What must we do? And he said: Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.

¹⁵ Many people were expecting the Messiah. They reasoned in their hearts concerning John: Perhaps he was the Messiah. ¹⁶ John answered, saying to them: I baptize you with water. He is coming who is mightier than I. I am not worthy to untie his shoelaces. He will baptize you in Holy Spirit and in fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand ready to thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor. He will gather the wheat into his barn. He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. ¹⁸ He preached good news to the people by offering many encouraging words. ¹⁹ John reproved Herod the tetrarch for all the evil things he had done for he took his brother Herodias' wife. ²⁰ He added this also to them all. He locked up John in prison.