SCRIPTURE
Matthew
3:1-12
“Prepare
the way of the Lord”
1
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3
This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice
of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his
paths straight.'" 4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with
a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5
Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the
region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river
Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and
Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who
warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of
repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham
as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up
children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the
trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire. 11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but
one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His
winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will
gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable
fire."