Matthew 3:1-10 ▼

1 And in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

2 and saying |Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.|

3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, |The voice of one who calls out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his roads straight.'|

4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him,

6 and they were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism he said to them, |You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance,

9 and do not think to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

10 |Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.