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| 3 | Matthew |
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| 1 |
ABOUT THIS TIME John the Baptist appeared as a preacher in the Judaean wilderness; | The Preaching of John the Baptist Mt.3.1-12 (Bethabara) -[ Mt.3.1-12 → ] - Mk.1.1-8, Lk.3.1-9, Jn.1.19-28 |
| 2 |
his theme was: 'Repent; for the kingdom of Heaven is upon you!' | |
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It is of him that the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, 'A voice crying aloud in the wilderness, "Prepare a way for the Lord; clear a straight path for him." ' | - The voice of one crying in the wilderness Mt.3.3 - Is.40.3 |
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John's clothing was a rough coat of camel's hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. | |
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They flocked to him from Jerusalem, from all Judaea, and the whole Jordan valley, | |
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and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.
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| 7 |
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them: 'You vipers' brood! Who warned you to escape from the coming retribution? | |
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Then prove your repentance by the fruit it bears; | |
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and do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham for our father." I tell you that God can make children for Abraham out of these stones here. | |
| 10 |
Already the axe is laid to the roots of the trees; and every tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. | |
| 11 |
I baptize you with water, for repentance; but the one who comes after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to take off his shoes; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. | |
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His shovel is ready in his hand and he will winnow his threshing-floor; the wheat he will gather into his granary, but he will burn the chaff on a fire that can never go out.'
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| 13 |
Then Jesus arrived at the Jordan from Galilee, and came to John to be baptized by him. | The Baptism of Jesus Mt.3.13-17 (Bethabara) -[ Mt.3.13-17 → ] - Mk.1.9-11, Lk.3.21-22 |
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John tried to dissuade him. 'Do you come to me?' he said; 'I need rather to be baptized by you.' | |
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Jesus replied, 'Let it be so for the present; we do well to conform in this way with all that God requires.' John then allowed him to come. | |
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After baptism Jesus came up out of the water at once, and at that moment heaven opened; he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove to alight upon him; | |
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and a voice from heaven was heard saying, 'This is my Son, my Beloved, on whom my favour rests.'
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