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Matthew 3
The Voice

Nazarene means, “tender, green, or living branch.” Jesus is the living Branch, the branch of David that extends the reach of the tree of Israel eventually to foreigners and outsiders.

3 Around the same time, a man called John[a] began to travel, preach, and ritually wash people through baptism in the wilderness of Judea. John preached a stern but exciting message.

John: 2 Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near.

3 John’s proclamation fulfilled a promise made by the ancient prophet Isaiah, who had said, “There will be a voice calling from the desert, saying,

Prepare the road for the Eternal One’s journey;
    repair and straighten out every mile of our God’s highway.”[b]

4 John wore wild clothes made from camel hair with a leather belt around his waist—the clothes of an outcast, a rebel. He ate locusts and wild honey.

Sometimes when people see John they are reminded of the last time God’s people had wandered in a wilderness—after the exodus from Egypt. John is all about wilderness. He preaches in the wilderness, and he wears clothes just like the prophet Elijah had worn. They think perhaps John is inaugurating a new exodus. Actually, that is a pretty good way to think of it. The Anointed One, whose way John comes to prepare, will call humanity away from comfort and status; He will call His followers to challenge their assumptions and the things they take for granted.

5 People from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and indeed from all around the river Jordan came to John. 6 They confessed their sins, and they were baptized[c] by him in the Jordan.

But John is not exactly warm to all those who come to him seeking cleansing.

7 He told some Pharisees and Sadducees who came for the ritual baptism,

John: You children of serpents! You brood of vipers! Did someone suggest you flee from the wrath that is upon us? 8-9 If you think that simply hopping in the Jordan will cleanse you, then you are sorely mistaken. Your life must bear the fruits of turning toward righteousness. Nor are you correct if you think that being descended from Abraham is enough to make you holy and right with God. Yes, the children of Abraham are God’s chosen children, but God can adopt as daughters and sons anyone He likes—He can turn these stones into sons if He likes.

To be made right with God, one must truly repent. It means to turn completely away from sin and completely toward God.

10 Even now there is an ax poised at the root of every tree, and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and tossed into the fire. 11 I ritually cleanse you through baptism[d] as a mark of turning your life around. But someone is coming after me, someone whose sandals I am not fit to carry, someone who is more powerful than I. He will wash[e] you not in water but in fire and with the Holy Spirit. 12 He carries a winnowing fork in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor; He will gather up the good wheat in His barn, and He will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out.

13 And then, the One of whom John spoke—the all-powerful Jesus—came to the Jordan from Galilee to be washed[f] by John. 14 At first, John demurred.

John: I need to be cleansed[g] by You. Why do You come to me?

Jesus: 15 It will be right, true, and faithful to God’s chosen path for you to cleanse Me with your hands in the Jordan River.

John agreed, and he ritually cleansed Jesus, dousing Him in the waters of the Jordan. 16 Jesus emerged from His baptism;[h] and at that moment heaven was opened, and Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him, alighting on His very body.

Voice from Heaven: 17 This is My Son, whom I love; this is the Apple of My eye; with Him I am well pleased.

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Literally, John who immersed, to show repentance
  2. 3:3 Isaiah 40:3
  3. 3:6 Literally, immersed, to show repentance
  4. 3:11 Literally, immerse, to show repentance
  5. 3:11 Literally, immerse, in a rite of initiation and purification
  6. 3:13 Literally, immersed, to show repentance
  7. 3:14 Literally, immersed, in a rite of initiation and purification
  8. 3:16 Literally, after being immersed, Jesus came up from the water.
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Matthew 3
Tree of Life Version

John’s Witness to Israel’s Leaders

3 In those days, John the Immerser came proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” [a] 3 For he is the one Isaiah the prophet spoke about, saying,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of Adonai, and make His paths straight.’”[b]

4 Now John wore clothing from camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts[c] and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were being immersed by him in the Jordan River.

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance; 9 and do not think that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’! For I tell you that from these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 Already the axe is laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!

11 “As for me, I immerse you in water for repentance. But the One coming after me is mightier than I am; I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He shall clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but the chaff He shall burn up with inextinguishable fire.”[d]

The Heavens Open at Yeshua’s Mikveh

13 Then Yeshua came from the Galilee to John, to be immersed by him in the Jordan. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be immersed by You, and You are coming to me?”

15 But Yeshua responded, “Let it happen now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” So John yielded to Him.

16 After being immersed, Yeshua rose up out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Ruach Elohim[e] descending like a dove and coming upon Him. 17 And behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased!”[f]

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:3 cf. Dan. 2:44.
  2. Matthew 3:3 Isa. 40:3.
  3. Matthew 3:4 cf. Lev. 11:22.
  4. Matthew 3:12 cf. Ps. 1:4; Jer. 7:20.
  5. Matthew 3:16 cf. Gen. 1:2.
  6. Matthew 3:17 cf. Ps. 2:7; Prov. 30:4.
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马太福音 3
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)

施洗约翰传道

3 那时，有施洗的约翰出来，在犹太的旷野传道说： 2 “天国近了，你们应当悔改！” 3 这人就是先知以赛亚所说的，他说：“在旷野有人声喊着说：‘预备主的道，修直他的路！’” 4 这约翰身穿骆驼毛的衣服，腰束皮带，吃的是蝗虫、野蜜。 5 那时，耶路撒冷和犹太全地并约旦河一带地方的人，都出去到约翰那里， 6 承认他们的罪，在约旦河里受他的洗。 7 约翰看见许多法利赛人和撒都该人也来受洗，就对他们说：“毒蛇的种类！谁指示你们逃避将来的愤怒呢？ 8 你们要结出果子来，与悔改的心相称！ 9 不要自己心里说：‘有亚伯拉罕为我们的祖宗。’我告诉你们，神能从这些石头中给亚伯拉罕兴起子孙来。 10 现在斧子已经放在树根上，凡不结好果子的树就砍下来，丢在火里。

必有圣灵与火的洗

11 “我是用水给你们施洗，叫你们悔改；但那在我以后来的，能力比我更大，我就是给他提鞋也不配，他要用圣灵与火给你们施洗。 12 他手里拿着簸箕，要扬净他的场，把麦子收在仓里，把糠用不灭的火烧尽了。”

耶稣受洗

13 当下耶稣从加利利来到约旦河，见了约翰，要受他的洗。 14 约翰想要拦住他，说：“我当受你的洗，你反倒上我这里来吗？” 15 耶稣回答说：“你暂且许我，因为我们理当这样尽诸般的义[a]。”于是约翰许了他。 16 耶稣受了洗，随即从水里上来。天忽然为他开了，他就看见神的灵仿佛鸽子降下，落在他身上； 17 从天上有声音说：“这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。”

Footnotes

  1. 马太福音 3:15 或作：礼。
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Matthew 3
New International Version

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

3 In those days John the Baptist(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven(C) has come near.” 3 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)

4 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. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized(H) by him in the Jordan River.

7 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) 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.(K) 9 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
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