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Read the Bible
Legacy Standard Bible
Matthew 3
The Preaching of John the Baptist
1 Now (C1)in those days (F1)(C2)John the Baptist (*)(F2)came, (F3)preaching in the (C3)wilderness of Judea, saying,2 "(C1)Repent, for (C2)the kingdom of heaven (F1)is at hand."3 For this is the (C1)one referred to (F1)by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
"(C2)THE VOICE OF ONE (F2)CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
'(C3)MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE (F3)LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"
7 But when he saw many of the (C1)Pharisees and (C2)Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You (C3)brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from (C4)the wrath to come?8 "(C1)Therefore bear fruit (C2)in keeping with repentance;9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, '(C1)We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.10 "And the (C1)axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore (C2)every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 "As for me, (C1)I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; (C2)He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.12 "His (C1)winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will (C2)gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the (C3)chaff with (C4)unquenchable fire."
The Baptism of Jesus
13 (C1)Then Jesus (*)arrived (C2)from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John to be baptized by him.14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?"15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us (C1)to fulfill all righteousness." Then he (*)permitted Him.16 And after being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and (F1)(C1)he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him,17 and behold, there was a voice out of the heavens saying, "(C1)This is (F1)My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
