Matthew 3

Matthew 3:13-17Theophany of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Text · Matthew 3

The Preaching of John the Baptist

1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.” 3This is the one who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, who said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord;

make his paths straight.’ ”

4Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and so were all Judea and all the region around the Jordan. 6They were being baptized by him in the aJordan, confessing their sins.

7But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce bfruit consistent with repentance. 9And do not think that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy cSpirit. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by yoʋ, and yet yoʋ are coming to me?” 15But Jesus answered him, “Permit it for now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted him. 16After being baptized, Jesus immediately went up from the water. And behold, the heavens were opened dto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Textual notes

a3:6Jordan ¦ Jordan River CT
b3:8fruit ¦ fruits TR
c3:11Spirit ¦ Spirit and fire ANT CT TR
d3:16to him 99.3% ¦ — SBL WH 0.3%

Synoptic parallels

3:1–6 The Ministry of John the Baptist
Mark 1:2–6Luke 3:1–6John 1:19–23
The Ministry of John the Baptist
4 Gospels · read side by side
Matthew 3:1–6 · this chapter
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1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.” 3This is the one who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, who said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ” 4Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and so were all Judea and all the region around the Jordan. 6They were being baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mark 1:2–6
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2As it is written in the Prophets, “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of yoʋ, who will prepare yoʋr way before yoʋ, 3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight,’ ” 4John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside was going out to him, and so were the people of Jerusalem. They were all being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist; he ate locusts and wild honey.
Luke 3:1–6
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1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight. 5Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked roads will be made straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth. 6And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’ ”
John 1:19–23
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19This was the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are yoʋ?” 20He did not refuse to answer, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.” 21So they asked him, “What then? Are yoʋ Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are yoʋ the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22So they said to him, “Who are yoʋ? Tell us so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do yoʋ say about yoʋrself?” 23He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
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3:7–10 John's Preaching of Repentance
Luke 3:7–9
John's Preaching of Repentance
2 Gospels · read side by side
Matthew 3:7–10 · this chapter
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7But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit consistent with repentance. 9And do not think that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Luke 3:7–9
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7John said to the crowds that were coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit consistent with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
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3:11–12 John Foretells the Messiah
Mark 1:7–8Luke 3:15–18John 1:24–28
John Foretells the Messiah
4 Gospels · read side by side
Matthew 3:11–12 · this chapter
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11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
Mark 1:7–8
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7He proclaimed, “After me comes one who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Luke 3:15–18
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15Now as the people were waiting in expectation and were all questioning in their hearts whether John might be the Christ, 16John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one is coming who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.” 18With these and many other exhortations John preached good news to the people.
John 1:24–28
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24(Now those who had been sent were from the Pharisees.) 25Then they asked him, “Why then do yoʋ baptize if yoʋ are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands someone you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, who ranks ahead of me, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
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3:13–17 The Baptism of Jesus
Mark 1:9–11Luke 3:21–22
The Baptism of Jesus
3 Gospels · read side by side
Matthew 3:13–17 · this chapter
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13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by yoʋ, and yet yoʋ are coming to me?” 15But Jesus answered him, “Permit it for now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted him. 16After being baptized, Jesus immediately went up from the water. And behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:9–11
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9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Immediately as he was coming up from the water, he saw the heavens being split apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11Then a voice came from heaven: “Yoʋ are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:21–22
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21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus had also been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “Yoʋ are my beloved Son; in yoʋ I am well pleased.”
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Referenced elsewhere

v. 3 — cited in Adam to Jesus (Luke 3:38)

New Testament text: Text-Critical English New Testament (TCENT) — © Robert Adam Boyd, CC BY 4.0. Texts & Translations →