Matthew 3:9-11

Living Bible

⁹Don’t try to get by as you are, thinking, ‘We are safe for we are Jews—descendants of Abraham.’ That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into Jews!^[a]

¹⁰“And even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised to chop down every unproductive tree. They will be chopped and burned.

¹¹“With water^[b] I baptize those who repent of their sins; but someone else is coming, far greater than I am, so great that I am not worthy to carry his shoes! He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

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Footnotes

Matthew 3:9 God can change these stones here into Jews, literally, “God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”
Matthew 3:11 With water . . . with the Holy Spirit, or “In water . . . in the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 3:9-11

New International Version

⁹And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’^(A) I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰The 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.^(B)

¹¹“I baptize you with^[a] water for repentance.^(C) 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^(D) and fire.^(E)