Matthew 3
All 17 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.
Read Matthew 3 in the Bible reader, with audio →
- 1During that time, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judaea, preaching.
- 2"Repent," he declared, "because the kingdom of heaven is near!"
- 3For this is the one spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'
- 4John wore rough clothing made from camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He lived on locusts and wild honey.
- 5People poured out to see him — from Jerusalem, from all across Judaea, and from the entire region along the Jordan River.
- 6They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan.
- 7But when John saw large numbers of Pharisees and Sadducees showing up to be baptized, he confronted them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to run from the coming wrath?
- 8Therefore, produce fruits worthy of repentance.
- 9And do not say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
- 10The axe is already at the root of the trees. Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
- 11I baptize you with water for repentance. But someone far more powerful than I am is coming—I'm not even worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- 12He holds a shovel in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean his threshing floor. He'll gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he'll burn with fire that never goes out.
- 13Then Jesus traveled from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
- 14John tried to stop him. "I'm the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said. "Why are you coming to me?"
- 15Jesus answered, "Let it happen this way for now. This is how we should fulfill all righteousness." So John agreed.
- 16When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Look, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and landing on him.
- 17Then a voice spoke from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."