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

The Baptism of Jesus^(E)

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

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides!^(A) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’^{(B) 17} You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?^{(C) 18} You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?^{(D) 20} Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells^(E) in it. ²² And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.^(F)

²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth^(G) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.^(H) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times^(A)

24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. ² “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another;^(B) every one will be thrown down.”