Matthew 3
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In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
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and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
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This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" [1]
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John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
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People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
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Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
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But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
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Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
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And do not think you can say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
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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.
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"I baptize you with [2] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
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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."
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Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
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But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
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Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
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As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
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And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
  1. [3] Isaiah 40:3
  2. [11] Or in