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| 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, |
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| 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. |
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| 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. |
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| 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. |
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| 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, |
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| 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. |
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| 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? |
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| 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: |
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| 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. |
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| 10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. |
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| 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire: |
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| 12 Whose winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. |
Fan – "Winnowing fork" - Strong's 4425 (Darby, ISV, Weymouth, NASB)
His floor – His threshing floor. This is where the stalks of wheat was broken up to where the wheat and chaff were separated from the stalk.
Unquenchable fire – The Greek word "unquenchable" here (according to the Wescott and Hort text) is "asbestos." |
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| 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
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| 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? |
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| 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
Then he suffered him. |
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| 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: |
The heavens were opened unto him – The knowledge of Spiritual things. This is the same phrase used to describe what takes place with the followers of the Lord when they make full consecration of themselves to Him. see Mal. 3:10
Matthew 5:19
Shall break one of these least commandments – Rotherham translates this as: "shall relax one of these commandments, the least.."
Matthew 5:22
Without a cause – These words are not found in the oldest Greek MSS. This makes our Lord's words even more searching. This then suggests that if we are angry with our brother, even if there be a legitimate cause, we are placing ourselves in danger.
Raca – Worthless one.G4469
ῥακά
rhaka
rhak-ah'
Of Chaldee origin (compare [H7386]); O empty one, that is, thou worthless (as a term of utter vilification): - Raca.
Matthew 5:23
Therefore – Because, as just described, the standard is not what you do outwardly but rather what is in your heart (Prov. 23:7) .. |
| 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. |
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