Matthew 3:1–10

John Prepares the Way—Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–18; John 1:19–28

¹Later, John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea. His message was, ²“Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” ³Isaiah the prophet spoke about this man when he said, 

“A voice cries out in the desert: 

‘Prepare the way for the Lord! 

Make his paths straight!’ ” 

⁴John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. 

⁵Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him. ⁶As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 

⁷But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God’s coming anger? ⁸Do those things that prove you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. ⁹Don’t think you can say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor.’ I can guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.