Matthew
Summary
After many years of silence, the ministry of John the Baptist emerges in the wilderness of Judea as the definitive voice preparing the way for the Messiah. John’s radical call to repentance and his practice of baptism in the Jordan River challenge the religious complacency of the Pharisees and Sadducees, while announcing the imminent arrival of the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The chapter reaches its climax with the baptism of Jesus: an event that serves as His public inauguration. As He emerges from the water, the heavens are opened, the Spirit of God descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice from heaven provides the ultimate testimony: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
For 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.'"
Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
But 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?"
"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,"
"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."
"And even now the axe 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."
"I indeed baptize you with water for 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."
"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."
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
But 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.
When Jesus had been baptized, He came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him.
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."