Matthew 3:7-4:11

New International Version

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers!^(A) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(B) 8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.^{(C) 9} And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’^(D) I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.^(E)

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[a] water for repentance.^(F) But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit^(G) and fire.^{(H) 12} His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”^(I)

The Baptism of Jesus^(J)

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.^{(K) 14} But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened,^(L) and he saw the Spirit of God^(M) descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven^(N) said, “This is my Son,^(O) whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”^(P)

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness^(Q)

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[c](R) by the devil.^{(S) 2} After fasting forty days and forty nights,^(T) he was hungry. ³ The tempter^(U) came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God,^(V) tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[d]”^(W)

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city^(X) and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,”^(Y) he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’^[f]”^(AA)

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!^(AB) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[g]”^(AC)

¹¹ Then the devil left him,^(AD) and angels came and attended him.^(AE)