nsb - 3

nsb@Matthew:3:1 @ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming:

nsb@Matthew:3:2 @ »Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.«

nsb@Matthew:3:3 @ Isaiah spoke of John when he said: »He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: Prepare the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight.« (Isaiah strkjv@40:3)

nsb@Matthew:3:4 @ John wore clothes made from camels hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

nsb@Matthew:3:5 @ People from Jerusalem, Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him.

nsb@Matthew:3:6 @ They confessed their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River.

nsb@Matthew:3:7 @ He saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism. »You offspring of vipers,« he said, »who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

nsb@Matthew:3:8 @ »Bear fruit worthy of repentance!

nsb@Matthew:3:9 @ »Do not presume that Abraham is your father. I tell you that God can make descendants for Abraham from these stones!

nsb@Matthew:3:10 @ »The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

nsb@Matthew:3:11 @ »I baptize you with water because of your repentance. He that comes after me is mightier than I. He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. I am not even good enough to carry his sandals.

nsb@Matthew:3:12 @ »His winnowing shovel is in his hand. He will clean his threshing floor and gather his wheat into a barn. He will then burn the husks in a fire that cannot be put out.«

nsb@Matthew:3:13 @ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.

nsb@Matthew:3:14 @ »I need to be baptized by you,« John said. »Why are you coming to me?«

nsb@Matthew:3:15 @ Jesus answered emphatically: »This is the proper way to do everything that God requires. This is the way it must be!«

nsb@Matthew:3:16 @ Then Jesus was baptized and came up from the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened. He saw Gods Spirit coming down like a dove.

nsb@Matthew:3:17 @ Then a voice from heaven said: »This is my Son whom I love and whom I have approved.«

Matthew 3