基督的先驅

在那些日子裡,施洗者[a]約翰來了,在猶太的曠野傳道, 說:「你們應當悔改,因為天國近了。」 約翰就是藉著先知以賽亞所說的那個人。以賽亞說:

「在曠野有聲音呼喊著:
『你們當預備主的道,
當修直[b]他的路!』」[c]

約翰穿著駱駝毛做的衣服,腰束皮帶。他的食物是蝗蟲和野蜜。 那時,耶路撒冷、全猶太地區和整個約旦河一帶的人,都出來到他那裡, 承認自己的罪孽,在約旦河裡受他的洗禮。

約翰看見許多法利賽人和撒都該人也來要受他的洗禮,就對他們說:「你們這些毒蛇的子孫!誰指示你們逃避那將要來臨的震怒呢? 你們應當結出果子,與悔改的心相稱! 你們不要心裡想『我們有亞伯拉罕為先祖。』我告訴你們:神能從這些石頭中給亞伯拉罕興起兒女來。 10 現在斧子已經放在樹根上,所有不結好果子的樹都要被砍下來,被丟進火裡。

11 「我用水[d]給你們施洗,是為了你們的[e]悔改。但在我之後來的那一位,是比我更強有力的,我就是為他提鞋子也不配。他要用聖靈和火給你們施洗。 12 他手裡拿著揚穀的杴,要揚淨他的打穀場,把他的麥子收進倉庫,卻把糠秕用不滅的火燒掉。」

耶穌受洗

13 那時,耶穌從加利利來到約旦河,到了約翰那裡,要受他的洗禮。 14 約翰想要阻止他,說:「我需要受你的洗禮,你反而到我這裡來嗎?」

15 耶穌回答他,說:「現在你就答應吧,因為我們如此成全一切的義,是合宜的。」於是約翰答應了他。

16 耶穌受了洗,一從水裡上來,看哪,諸天就為他[f]開了,他看見神的靈好像鴿子降下,臨到他身上。 17 這時候,忽然有聲音從諸天傳來,說:

「這是我的愛子,
我所喜悅的。」

Footnotes

  1. 馬太福音 3:1 施洗——或譯作「施浸」。
  2. 馬太福音 3:3 修直——或譯作「修平」。
  3. 馬太福音 3:3 《以賽亞書》40:3。
  4. 馬太福音 3:11 用水——或譯作「在水裡」。
  5. 馬太福音 3:11 你們的——輔助詞語。
  6. 馬太福音 3:16 有古抄本沒有「為他」。

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

In those days John the Baptist(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven(C) has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”[a](D)

John’s(E) clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.(F) His food was locusts(G) and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized(H) by him in the Jordan River.

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

11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance.(N) But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit(O) and fire.(P) 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.”(Q)

The Baptism of Jesus(R)

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

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:3 Isaiah 40:3
  2. Matthew 3:11 Or in
  3. Matthew 3:11 Or in

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

In those days (B)John the Baptist came preaching (C)in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for (D)the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

(E)“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
(F)‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”

Now (G)John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was (H)locusts and (I)wild honey. (J)Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him (K)and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, (L)“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from (M)the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, (N)‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. (O)Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 (P)I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. (Q)He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit [a]and fire. 12 (R)His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will (S)burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John Baptizes Jesus(T)

13 (U)Then Jesus came (V)from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

16 (W)When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and [b]He saw (X)the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 (Y)And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, (Z)“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:11 M omits and fire
  2. Matthew 3:16 Or he

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.