Matthew - Chapter 3

In those days, Yokhanan the baptiser came, preaching in the desert of Yudah, saying, 2 "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!" 3 For it is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

prepare the Way of Mar-Yah.

Make straight his path." *

4 Now Yokhanan's clothes were made of the hair of camels, and a girdle of skins was upon his loins. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then [people] from Yerushalayim, all of Yudah, and all the lands that surround the Yordan had gone out to him 6 that they could be baptised by him in the Yordan River, after they confessed their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees that came to be baptised he said to them, "Generation of vipers, who has told you to flee from the wrath that will come? 8 Practice therefore the fruits that are worthy of repentance! 9 You should not suppose and think within yourselves, 'We have Avraham as our father,' for I tell you that from these stones God is able to raise up sons to Avraham.

10 "Behold! The axe is placed at the root of the trees. All trees therefore that do not bring forth good fruit will be cut and thrown into the fire. 11 I baptise you in water for repentance, but he that will come after me is more powerful than I, [and] I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He will baptise you by the Holy Spirit and by fire. * 12 He whose winnowing fan is in his hand will cleanse his threshing floors. He will gather his wheat into his granaries, and the chaff he will burn in the fire that will not extinguish."

13 Then Yeshua and his mother and his brothers came from Galil to the Yordan to Yokhanan, to be baptised by him. 14 But Yokhanan refusing him, said, "It is I that needs to be baptised by you, and you come to me?"

15 Then Yeshua answered and said to him, "It is not that I have sinned that I should be baptised, but you must allow it now, for it is proper for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he allowed it. 16 When Yeshua was baptised, at once he came up from the water, and the heavens were opened to him. And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and the Holy Spirit descended and rested upon him. 17 And behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am pleased. My Son, you have come and I will rest in you. For you are my rest and you are my firstborn son who will reign forever."