Matthew 3:1–7

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3:1–12pp—Mk 1:3–8; Lk 3:2–17

3 In those days John the Baptistz came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heavena has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’ ”a b

4 John’sc clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.d His food was locustse and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptizedf by him in the Jordan River.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers!g Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?h