Matthew 3:3–4:11

3 For this is the aone referred to 1by Isaiah the prophet when he said,

“bThe voice of one 2crying in the wilderness,

‘cMake ready the way of the Lord,

Make His paths straight!’ ”

4 Now John himself had 1aa garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was blocusts and wild honey.

5 Then Jerusalem awas going out to him, and all Judea and all bthe district around the Jordan;

6 and they were being abaptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the aPharisees and bSadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You cbrood of vipers, who warned you to flee from dthe wrath to come?

8 “aTherefore bear fruit bin keeping with repentance;

9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘aWe have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

10 “The aaxe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore bevery tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “As for me, aI baptize you 1with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; bHe will baptize you 1with the Holy Spirit and fire.

12 “His awinnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will bgather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the cchaff with dunquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 aThen Jesus * arrived bfrom Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.

14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us ato fulfill all righteousness.” Then he * permitted Him.

16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and 1ahe saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and 2lighting on Him,

17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “aThis is 1My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Chapter 4

The Temptation of Jesus

1 aThen Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness bto be tempted by the devil.

2 And after He had afasted forty days and forty nights, He 1then became hungry.

3 And athe tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the bSon of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘aMan shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”

5 Then the devil * took Him into athe holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,

6 and * said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

‘aHe will command His angels concerning You’;

and

‘On their hands they will bear You up,

So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus said to him, “1On the other hand, it is written, ‘aYou shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

8 aAgain, the devil * took Him to a very high mountain and * showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;

9 and he said to Him, “aAll these things I will give You, if You fall down and 1worship me.”

10 Then Jesus * said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘aYou shall worship the Lord your God, and 1serve Him only.’ ”

11 Then the devil * left Him; and behold, aangels came and began to minister to Him.