Study Desk

Now ^(C1)in those days ^(C2)John the Baptist ^(*)(F1)came, ^(F2)preaching in the ^(C3)wilderness of Judea, saying,

"^(C1)Repent, for ^(C2)the kingdom of heaven has come near."

For this is the ^(C1)one referred to ^(F1)by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "^(C2)THE VOICE OF ONE ^(F2)CALLING ^(F3)OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, '^(C3)PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"

Now John himself had ^(F1)(C1)a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was ^(C2)locusts and wild honey.

At that time Jerusalem ^(C1)was going out to him, and all Judea and all ^(C2)the region around the Jordan;

and they were being ^(C1)baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

But when he saw many of the ^(C1)Pharisees and ^(C2)Sadducees coming for ^(F1)baptism, he said to them, "You ^(F2)(C3)offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from ^(C4)the wrath to come?

"^(C1)Therefore produce fruit ^(C2)consistent with repentance;

and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, '^(C1)We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham.

"And the ^(C1)axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, ^(C2)every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.

"As for me, ^(C1)I baptize you ^(F1)with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; ^(C2)He will baptize you ^(F1)with the Holy Spirit and fire.

"His ^(C1)winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will ^(C2)gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the ^(C3)chaff with ^(C4)unquenchable fire."