開路先鋒

那時,施洗者約翰來到猶太的曠野傳道,說: 「悔改吧,因為天國臨近了!」 約翰就是以賽亞先知所說的那位,他說:「有人在曠野大聲呼喊,『預備主的道,修直祂的路。』」

約翰身穿駱駝毛的衣服,腰束皮帶,吃的是蝗蟲、野蜜。 那時,耶路撒冷、猶太各地和約旦河一帶的人都來到約翰那裡, 承認他們的罪,在約旦河裡接受他的洗禮。

約翰看見很多法利賽人和撒都該人也來受洗,就對他們說:「你們這些毒蛇的後代!誰指示你們逃避那將臨的烈怒呢? 你們要結出與悔改相稱的果子。 不要心裡說,『我們是亞伯拉罕的子孫。』我告訴你們,上帝可以從這些石頭中興起亞伯拉罕的子孫。 10 現在斧頭已經放在樹根上了,不結好果子的樹都要被砍下,丟在火裡。 11 我用水為你們施洗,叫你們悔改。但在我之後,有位比我更有能力的要來,我連替祂提鞋都不配。祂要用聖靈和火為你們施洗。 12 祂手拿簸箕,要把穀場清理乾淨,將麥子存入倉裡,用不滅的火把糠秕燒盡。」

耶穌受洗

13 後來,耶穌從加利利來到約旦河要約翰為祂施洗。 14 約翰想要攔住祂,就說:「應該是你為我施洗才對,你反倒來找我?」

15 耶穌回答說:「你就這樣做吧!我們理當這樣遵行上帝一切的要求。」於是約翰答應了。

16 耶穌受了洗,剛從水裡上來,天就開了。祂看見上帝的聖靈像鴿子一樣降到祂身上, 17 又有聲音從天上傳來:「這是我的愛子,我甚喜悅祂。」

John the Baptist Begins His Ministry

Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the Judean wilderness and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!” For this is the one who was spoken about by the prophet Isaiah, saying,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight.’”[a]

Now John himself had his clothing made from camel’s hair and a belt made of leather around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan were going out to him, and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they[b] confessed their sins.

But when he[c] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 10 Already now the ax is positioned at the root of the trees; therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is more powerful than I am, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John in order to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent[d] him, saying, “I need[e] to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and[f] said to him, “Permit it now, for in this way it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted him. 16 Now after he[g] was baptized, Jesus immediately went up from the water, and behold, the heavens opened[h] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming[i] upon him. 17 And behold, there was[j] a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:3 A quotation from Isa 40:3
  2. Matthew 3:6 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“confessed”) which is understood as temporal
  3. Matthew 3:7 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  4. Matthew 3:14 The imperfect verb is understood as conative (“tried to”)
  5. Matthew 3:14 Literally “I have need”
  6. Matthew 3:15 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  7. Matthew 3:16 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was baptized”) which is understood as temporal
  8. Matthew 3:16 Some manuscripts have “opened to him”
  9. Matthew 3:16 Some manuscripts have “and coming”
  10. Matthew 3:17 The words “there was” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to make a complete sentence in English

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In those days, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near!” Yes, this is he of whom this was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

“Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”[a]

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 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 coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit in keeping with repentance! Do not think of saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 10 Already the ax is ready to strike[b] the root of the trees. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I baptize you with water for repentance. But the one who comes after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John Baptizes Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John at the Jordan. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, because it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John let him. 16 After Jesus was baptized, he immediately went up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened for him! He saw the Spirit of God, descending like a dove and landing on him, 17 and a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:3 Isaiah 40:3
  2. Matthew 3:10 Literally is placed against