Matthew 3 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

(Mark 1:2–8; Luke 3:1–20 )

Mat 3:1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Mat 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Mat 3:3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’ ”[fn]

Mat 3:4

Mat 3:4Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Mat 3:5

Mat 3:5Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him

Mat 3:6

Mat 3:6and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mat 3:7

Mat 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Mat 3:8

Mat 3:8“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

Mat 3:9

Mat 3:9“and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Mat 3:10

Mat 3:10“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Mat 3:11

Mat 3:11“I indeed baptize you with water unto 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 and fire.[fn]

Mat 3:12

Mat 3:12“His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John Baptizes Jesus

(Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21, 22; John 1:29–34 )

Mat 3:13

Mat 3:13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

Mat 3:14

Mat 3:14And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

Mat 3:15

Mat 3:15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

Mat 3:16

Mat 3:16When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He[fn] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

Mat 3:17

Mat 3:17And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

See the NKJV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NKJV Footnotes

(3:3)

Isaiah 40:3

(3:11)

M-Text omits and fire.

(3:16)

Or he

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