Matthew 3
New Living Translation
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
3 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.[a]” 3 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]
4 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. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
7 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? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 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.”
Matthew 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
In Fulfillment of Isaiah, John The Baptist Prepares The Nation For The Messiah
3 Now during those days John the Baptist comes[a], proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn-near”. 3 For this one is the one having been spoken of through Isaiah the prophet saying [in Isa 40:3], “A voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, be making His paths straight’”. 4 Now John himself was having[b] his clothing [made] of camel’s hair, and a belt made-of-leather around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 At that time Jerusalem and all Judea and all the surrounding-region of the Jordan was going out to him. 6 And they were being baptized in the Jordan River by him while confessing-out[c] their sins.
John Says To Produce Fruit Worthy of Repentance, Because The Chaff Will Be Burned
7 But having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to[d] his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers— who showed[e] you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance. 9 And do not think that you may say within[f] yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’. For I say to you that God is able to raise-up children for Abraham from these stones! 10 And the axe is already lying[g] at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I am baptizing you with[h] water for repentance, but the One coming after me is more powerful than me, of Whom I am not fit to carry the sandals. He will baptize you with[i] the Holy Spirit and fire[j]— 12 Whose winnowing-tool is in His hand, and He will cleanse-out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But He will burn up the chaff with an inextinguishable fire”.
When Jesus Is Baptized, The Spirit Descends Upon Him And His Father Expresses His Pleasure
13 Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John that He might be baptized by him. 14 But John was preventing Him, saying, “I have a need to be baptized by You, and You are coming to me?” 15 But having responded, Jesus said to him, “Permit it at this time. For it is fitting[k] for us to fulfill all righteousness in this manner”. Then he permits Him. 16 And having been baptized, Jesus immediately ascended[l] from[m] the water. And behold— the heavens were opened to Him, and he[n] saw the Spirit of God descending as-if [o] a dove, and coming upon Him. 17 And behold— a voice from the heavens saying, “This is My beloved Son with Whom I was[p] well-pleased”.
Footnotes
- Matthew 3:1 Or, arrives, appears publicly.
- Matthew 3:4 That is, was habitually having.
- Matthew 3:6 Or, acknowledging, openly admitting.
- Matthew 3:7 Or, upon, for.
- Matthew 3:7 Or, indicated to, warned.
- Matthew 3:9 Or, among.
- Matthew 3:10 Or, being laid.
- Matthew 3:11 Or, in.
- Matthew 3:11 Or, in.
- Matthew 3:11 This fire of judgment may be with regard to unbelievers, the chaff mentioned next, or with regard to the purifying work of the Spirit on believers.
- Matthew 3:15 That is, for Jesus as a devout son of Israel; or, for Jesus as an inauguration of His own ministry.
- Matthew 3:16 Or, went up, came up.
- Matthew 3:16 Or, away from.
- Matthew 3:16 That is, John.
- Matthew 3:16 Or, like.
- Matthew 3:17 Or, I delighted, I took pleasure. This may have an eternal sense, ‘I was well pleased’ to choose and send Him for this task (as in Isa 42:1; Lk 9:35; Mt 12:18); or, a timeless sense, ‘I am well pleased’; or, a historical sense, ‘I have become well pleased’ in His obedience.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
