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Matthew 3:1-17 (CEV)

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¹ Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea. ² He said, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here." ³ John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, 'Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.' " ⁴ John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey. ⁵ From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John. ⁶ They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river. ⁷ Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them: You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? ⁸ Do something to show that you have really given up your sins. ⁹ And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. ¹⁰ An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire. ¹¹ I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out. ¹³ Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John kept objecting and said, "I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?" ¹⁵ Jesus answered, "For now this is how it should be, because we must do all that God wants us to do." Then John agreed. ¹⁶ So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. ¹⁷ Then a voice from heaven said, "This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him."


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 2) Repentance - John the baptist - "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
(v. 6) Confession - John - Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him
(v. 11) Humility - John the Baptist - One is coming, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie

This passage relates to the following question(s):
(v. 2) What is the difference between the "Kingdom of God" and the "Kingdom of Heaven"? Kingdom of heaven is near

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 3) Prayer of the Righeous - More Powerful Than We Can Imagine (part II) (2013-03-06)
(v. 7) Master Plan - Reproduction (part 2) (2009-12-15)
(v. 8) Master Plan - Reproduction (part 2) (2009-12-15)
(v. 11) Jesus with People - Humility in Action (2009-01-17)
(v. 14) Mind of Christ - Servant (part II) (2011-07-26)
(v. 14) Support (2015-12-02)
(v. 17) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part III) (2011-06-23)
(v. 17) Fearing God - A Father's Pain (2011-08-29)
(v. 17) Assurance (2015-07-30)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 1) Sermon: God calls Man to do the Impossible (2012-01-14)
(v. 2) Sermon: God calls Man to do the Impossible (2012-01-14)

Definition(s):
Galilee (Gal-ih-lee): wheel; revolution
Isaiah (Eye-zeh-a): the salvation of the Lord
Isaiah (Eye-zy-a): the salvation of the Lord
Jerusalem (Je-roo-sa-lem): vision of peace
Jesus (Jeez-us): savior; deliverer
Jordan (Jor-dan): the river of judgment
Pharisees (Fehr-iss-ees): set apart
Sadducees (Sad-you-sees): followers of Sadoc, or Zadok
Judea (Jood-e-a):
So (Soh):