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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Matthew 3 Amplified Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>This is the one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, <p class="indent1stline">“THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, <t><p class="indent1">‘PREPARE THE ROAD FOR THE LORD, <t><p class="indent1"><span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[c]</a></span>MAKE HIS HIGHWAYS STRAIGHT (level, direct)!’” <A><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Now this same John had clothing made of camel’s hair and a [wide] leather <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[d]</a></span>band around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>But when he saw many of the <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[e]</a></span>Pharisees and <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[f]</a></span>Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the [divine] wrath <i>and</i> judgment to come? <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin]; <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>and do not presume to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [so our inheritance assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>And already the axe [of God’s judgment] is <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[g]</a></span>swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>“As for me, I baptize you <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[h]</a></span>with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self--your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[i]</a></span>fire (judgment). <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>His <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[j]</a></span>winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom), but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.” <p class="hdg">The Baptism of Jesus</p><p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan [River], to be baptized by him. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[k]</a></span>to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[l]</a></span>Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus), <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/3-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>and behold, a <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[m]</a></span>voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased <i>and</i> delighted!”<A name="fn"></a></p><br /><br /><span class="footnotesbot">[a]</span> <span class="fnverse">1</span> Considered the last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist was the son of Zecharias (Zechariah) the priest and his wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were related (Luke 1:36), and Mary may have been with Elizabeth at the time John was born (Luke 1:56). John the Baptist is not to be confused with John the Apostle who along with his brother, James, was among the twelve disciples of Jesus.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[b]</span> <span class="fnverse">2</span> Jews believed they would automatically be granted entrance into the Messianic kingdom, so this new teaching that repentance was required was very difficult to accept.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[c]</span> <span class="fnverse">3</span> A ruler or nobleman traveling in the wilderness would have a crew of workmen preparing and clearing the road ahead of him. In spiritual terms, the message was clearing the way for the arrival of the Messiah by preparing the hearts of His followers.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[d]</span> <span class="fnverse">4</span> This band (sash, girdle) was about six inches wide and had clasps or fasteners in front. It was used to carry personal items such as a dagger, money or other necessary things.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[e]</span> <span class="fnverse">7</span> The Pharisees identified with the common people and had control over them. They were prominent legalistic leaders in Judaism who were experts in Mosaic Law and its rituals and traditions. They believed in the resurrection of the dead, immortality of the soul and in the existence of angels and spirits.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[f]</span> <span class="fnverse">7</span> The Sadducees were aristocratic members of a priestly group (religious party) who controlled the temple. They denied the possibility of a resurrection and the existence of any spiritual beings apart from God. Although the Sadducees were in the minority, they were leaders of the Sanhedrin, controlling the Jewish High Court.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[g]</span> <span class="fnverse">10</span> Lit <i>laid at</i>.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[h]</span> <span class="fnverse">11</span> The Greek here can be translated <i>in, with,</i> or <i>by</i>.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[i]</span> <span class="fnverse">11</span> Another view of “fire” purports that the text refers to the fiery baptism of the Holy Spirit, not judgment. According to this view the fire indicates that the believer is purified as in the refining of gold. Fire burns up the impurities and the gold (the believer) survives (cf 1 Cor 3:12, 13; James 1:3). The Holy Spirit promised here has been associated with Pentecost, purification, testing, and judgment. Each person who accepts Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5-8).<br><span class="footnotesbot">[j]</span> <span class="fnverse">12</span> A tool roughly resembling a pitchfork, used to separate grains of wheat from the chaff by throwing the wheat into the air, and allowing the wind to blow away the lighter chaff.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[k]</span> <span class="fnverse">15</span> This act of baptism identified Jesus with sinners whose sins He would ultimately bear, and to whom His righteousness would be imparted.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[l]</span> <span class="fnverse">16</span> The descent of the Holy Spirit identified Jesus in His humanity for His ministry as the Messiah.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[m]</span> <span class="fnverse">17</span> This is the first instance recorded in the Gospels of the Father speaking audibly to His Son. Also see Matt 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; John 12:28.<br></div><br /><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Amplified Bible Copyright © 2015<br>by The Lockman Foundation<br>All rights reserved <a href="http://www.lockman.org">www.lockman.org</a><br><br><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br>                                                                                                                                <span class="p"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../matthew/2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../matthew/4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>