1 In due course John the Baptist appeared; he proclaimed this message in the desert of Judaea,
2 'Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.'
3 This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said: A voice of one that cries in the desert, 'Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.'
4 This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather loin-cloth round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him,
6 and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.
7 But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, 'Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming retribution?
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance,
9 and do not presume to tell yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father," because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones.
10 Even now the axe is being laid to the root of the trees, so that any tree failing to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire.
11 I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor and gather his wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.'
13 Then Jesus appeared: he came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.
14 John tried to dissuade him, with the words, 'It is I who need baptism from you, and yet you come to me!'
15 But Jesus replied, 'Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that uprightness demands.' Then John gave in to him.
16 And when Jesus had been baptised he at once came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.
17 And suddenly there was a voice from heaven, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.'
Versículos relacionados com Matthew, 3:
St. Matthew 3 presents the figure of John the Baptist, who came to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. The chapter describes his ministry in the desert, where he preached repentance and baptism for the remission of sins. John the Baptist is an example of humility and devotion to God, who called the people to repentance and faith. The following verses deal with topics related to this message of repentance and preparation for the arrival of Jesus:
Isaiah 40:3: "Voice of what cries out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord; straighten in the wilderness to our God." This verse is quoted in St. Matthew 3:3, when John the Baptist begins to preach in the desert. Isaiah's prophecy announces the arrival of a messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord. John the Baptist fulfills this prophecy in announcing the coming of Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 18:30: "Therefore, I will judge you, to each one according to His ways, O house of Israel, say the Lord God. stumbling. " This verse highlights the importance of repentance and life change. John the Baptist preached the same message of conversion and repentance, calling the people to turn to God and abandon their sins.
Jeremiah 7:3-4: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, God of Israel: Amend your ways and your works, and I will make you dwell in this place. You do not trust false words, saying, Temple of the Lord, Temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord is this. " This verse warns the people against empty trust in religion, remembering that God seeks a real change of heart and attitude. John the Baptist preached the same message, calling people to actually repent and to bear fruit in good works.
Matthew 3:8: "I produced fruits worthy of repentance." In this verse, John the Baptist urges the people to produce fruits that show sincere repentance. He was not content with empty religious words or ceremonies, but sought a real change of life in people's hearts.
Luke 3:16: "He [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." This verse refers to Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit, who would baptize believers in his name. John the Baptist, in preparing the way to Jesus, anticipated this promise and announced that baptism with the Holy Spirit would be one of the marks of the coming of the Messiah.
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