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But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize,[a] he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize with[b] water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.[c] 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.[d] So John agreed to baptize him.

16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened[e] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

During that time the devil[f] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[g]

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’[h]

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’[i]

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God
    and serve only him.’[j]

11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. 3:7 Or coming to be baptized.
  2. 3:11a Or in.
  3. 3:11b Or in the Holy Spirit and in fire.
  4. 3:15 Or for we must fulfill all righteousness.
  5. 3:16 Some manuscripts read opened to him.
  6. 4:3 Greek the tempter.
  7. 4:4 Deut 8:3.
  8. 4:6 Ps 91:11-12.
  9. 4:7 Deut 6:16.
  10. 4:10 Deut 6:13.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers!(A) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(B) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.(C) And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(D) 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.(E)

11 “I baptize you with[a] water for repentance.(F) But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit(G) and fire.(H) 12 His winnowing 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.”(I)

The Baptism of Jesus(J)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.(K) 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,(L) and he saw the Spirit of God(M) descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven(N) said, “This is my Son,(O) whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”(P)

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness(Q)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[c](R) by the devil.(S) After fasting forty days and forty nights,(T) he was hungry. The tempter(U) came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God,(V) tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[d](W)

Then the devil took him to the holy city(X) and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,”(Y) he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[e](Z)

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[f](AA)

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!(AB) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[g](AC)

11 Then the devil left him,(AD) and angels came and attended him.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:11 Or in
  2. Matthew 3:11 Or in
  3. Matthew 4:1 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
  4. Matthew 4:4 Deut. 8:3
  5. Matthew 4:6 Psalm 91:11,12
  6. Matthew 4:7 Deut. 6:16
  7. Matthew 4:10 Deut. 6:13