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The Blue Letter Bible

Matthew 3 :: Amplified Bible (AMP)

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The Preaching of John the Baptist

(Mar 1:2–8; Luk 3:1–20 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:1

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:1 -

In those days [fn]John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying,

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:2

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:2 - “[fn]Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:3

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:3 - This is the one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS,

‘PREPARE THE ROAD FOR THE LORD,

[fn]MAKE HIS HIGHWAYS STRAIGHT (level, direct)!’”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:4

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:4 -

Now this same John had clothing made of camel’s hair and a [wide] leather [fn]band around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:5

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:5 - At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:6

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:6 - and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:7

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:7 -

But when he saw many of the [fn]Pharisees and [fn]Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the [divine] wrath and judgment to come?

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:8

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:8 - “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];

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:9

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:9 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:10

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:10 - “And already the axe [of God’s judgment] is [fn]swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:11

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:11 -

“As for me, I baptize you [fn]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 [fn]fire (judgment).

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:12

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:12 - “His [fn]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.”

The Baptism of Jesus

(Mar 1:9–11; Luk 3:21, 22; Jhn 1:29–34 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:13

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:13 -

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan [River], to be baptized by him.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:14

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:14 - 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?”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:15

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:15 - But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us [fn]to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:16

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:16 - After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the [fn]Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus),

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 3:17

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 3:17 - and behold, a [fn]voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!”
See the AMP Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
AMP Footnotes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lit laid at.
The Greek here can be translated in, with, or by.
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).
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.
This act of baptism identified Jesus with sinners whose sins He would ultimately bear, and to whom His righteousness would be imparted.
The descent of the Holy Spirit identified Jesus in His humanity for His ministry as the Messiah.
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.
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The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631 All rights reserved.

For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

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Matthew Chapter 3 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Morphological Greek New Testament Textus Receptus Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras