开路先锋

那时,施洗者约翰来到犹太的旷野传道,说: “悔改吧,因为天国临近了!” 约翰就是以赛亚先知所说的那位,他说:“有人在旷野大声呼喊,‘预备主的道,修直祂的路。’”

约翰身穿骆驼毛的衣服,腰束皮带,吃的是蝗虫、野蜜。 那时,耶路撒冷、犹太各地和约旦河一带的人都来到约翰那里, 承认他们的罪,在约旦河里接受他的洗礼。

约翰看见很多法利赛人和撒都该人也来受洗,就对他们说:“你们这些毒蛇的后代!谁指示你们逃避那将临的烈怒呢? 你们要结出与悔改相称的果子。 不要心里说,‘我们是亚伯拉罕的子孙。’我告诉你们,上帝可以从这些石头中兴起亚伯拉罕的子孙。 10 现在斧头已经放在树根上了,不结好果子的树都要被砍下,丢在火里。 11 我用水为你们施洗,叫你们悔改。但在我之后,有位比我更有能力的要来,我连替祂提鞋都不配。祂要用圣灵和火为你们施洗。 12 祂手拿簸箕,要把谷场清理干净,将麦子存入仓里,用不灭的火把糠秕烧尽。”

耶稣受洗

13 后来,耶稣从加利利来到约旦河要约翰为祂施洗。 14 约翰想要拦住祂,就说:“应该是你为我施洗才对,你反倒来找我?”

15 耶稣回答说:“你就这样做吧!我们理当这样遵行上帝一切的要求。”于是约翰答应了。

16 耶稣受了洗,刚从水里上来,天就开了。祂看见上帝的圣灵像鸽子一样降到祂身上, 17 又有声音从天上传来:“这是我的爱子,我甚喜悦祂。”

基督的先驱

在那些日子里,施洗者[a]约翰来了,在犹太的旷野传道, 说:“你们应当悔改,因为天国近了。” 约翰就是藉着先知以赛亚所说的那个人。以赛亚说:

“在旷野有声音呼喊着:
‘你们当预备主的道,
当修直[b]他的路!’”[c]

约翰穿着骆驼毛做的衣服,腰束皮带。他的食物是蝗虫和野蜜。 那时,耶路撒冷、全犹太地区和整个约旦河一带的人,都出来到他那里, 承认自己的罪孽,在约旦河里受他的洗礼。

约翰看见许多法利赛人和撒都该人也来要受他的洗礼,就对他们说:“你们这些毒蛇的子孙!谁指示你们逃避那将要来临的震怒呢? 你们应当结出果子,与悔改的心相称! 你们不要心里想‘我们有亚伯拉罕为先祖。’我告诉你们:神能从这些石头中给亚伯拉罕兴起儿女来。 10 现在斧子已经放在树根上,所有不结好果子的树都要被砍下来,被丢进火里。

11 “我用水[d]给你们施洗,是为了你们的[e]悔改。但在我之后来的那一位,是比我更强有力的,我就是为他提鞋子也不配。他要用圣灵和火给你们施洗。 12 他手里拿着扬谷的锨,要扬净他的打谷场,把他的麦子收进仓库,却把糠秕用不灭的火烧掉。”

耶稣受洗

13 那时,耶稣从加利利来到约旦河,到了约翰那里,要受他的洗礼。 14 约翰想要阻止他,说:“我需要受你的洗礼,你反而到我这里来吗?”

15 耶稣回答他,说:“现在你就答应吧,因为我们如此成全一切的义,是合宜的。”于是约翰答应了他。

16 耶稣受了洗,一从水里上来,看哪,诸天就为他[f]开了,他看见神的灵好像鸽子降下,临到他身上。 17 这时候,忽然有声音从诸天传来,说:

“这是我的爱子,
我所喜悦的。”

Footnotes

  1. 马太福音 3:1 施洗——或译作“施浸”。
  2. 马太福音 3:3 修直——或译作“修平”。
  3. 马太福音 3:3 《以赛亚书》40:3。
  4. 马太福音 3:11 用水——或译作“在水里”。
  5. 马太福音 3:11 你们的——辅助词语。
  6. 马太福音 3:16 有古抄本没有“为他”。

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.[a] The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
    Clear the road for him!’”[b]

John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize,[c] 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[d] 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.[e] 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.[f] So John agreed to baptize him.

16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened[g] 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.”

Footnotes

  1. 3:2 Or has come, or is coming soon.
  2. 3:3 Isa 40:3 (Greek version).
  3. 3:7 Or coming to be baptized.
  4. 3:11a Or in.
  5. 3:11b Or in the Holy Spirit and in fire.
  6. 3:15 Or for we must fulfill all righteousness.
  7. 3:16 Some manuscripts read opened to him.

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