Matthew 3:8-17

81Therefore produce fruit 2consistent with repentance; 9and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘3We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham. 10And the 4axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, 5every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.

11“As for me, 6I baptize you 7with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; 8He will baptize you 9with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His 10winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will 11gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the 12chaff with 13unquenchable fire.”

1314Then Jesus arrived 15from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him. 14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?” 15But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us 16to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and 1718he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and 19settling on Him, 17and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “20This is 21My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”