the Fourth Week of Advent
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New American Standard Bible (1995)
Matthew 3
The Preaching of John the Baptist
1 Now (C1)in those days (C2)John the Baptist (*)(F1)came, (F2)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 when he said,
"(C2)THE VOICE OF ONE (F2)CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
'(C3)MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"
7 But when he saw many of the (C1)Pharisees and (C2)Sadducees coming for 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 "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 (F1)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 (F1)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 answering said to him,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation