Matthew 3

Read on churchofjesuschrist.org (with footnotes)

JST insertionbefore v. 1

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is the child that is born, the Messiah of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard of the child, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them, saying, Where is the place that is written of by the prophets, in which Christ should be born? For he greatly feared, yet he believed not the prophets. And they said unto him, It is written by the prophets that he should be born in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus have they said, The word of the Lord came unto us, saying, And thou Bethlehem, which lieth in the land of Judea, in thee shall be born a prince, which art not the least among the princes of Judea; for out of thee shall come the Messiah, who shall save my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had called the wise men privily, inquired of them diligently at what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found the child, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child, with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a vision, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and tarry thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. And then he arose, and took the young child and the child's mother by night, and departed into Egypt, And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Ramah there was a voice heard: lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning—Rachael weeping for the loss of her children, and would not be comforted because they were not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a vision to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the stead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; but, notwithstanding, being warned of God in a vision, he went into the eastern part of Galilee; And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. And it came to pass that Jesus grew up with his brethren, and waxed strong, and waited upon the Lord for the time of his ministry to come. And he served under his father, and he spake not as other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any man should teach him. And after many years, the hour of his ministry drew nigh.

IV vv. 1–26 (Inspired Version, 1867)

1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa,

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 1

And in those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
IV v. 27 (Inspired Version, 1867)

2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 3

For I am he who was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight.
IV v. 29 (Inspired Version, 1867)

4And 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 4

And the same John had his raiment of camels' hair and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
IV v. 30 (Inspired Version, 1867)

5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan,

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 5

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,
IV v. 31 (Inspired Version, 1867)

6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 6

And many were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
IV v. 32 (Inspired Version, 1867)

7But 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?

8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 8

Repent, therefore, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance;
IV v. 35 (Inspired Version, 1867)

9And 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 9

And think not to say within yourselves, We are the children of Abraham, and we only have power to bring seed unto our father Abraham; for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
IV v. 36 (Inspired Version, 1867)

10And now also the axe 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.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 10

And now, also, the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire.
IV v. 37 (Inspired Version, 1867)

11I 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 Ghost, and with fire:

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 11

I indeed baptize you with water, upon your repentance; and when he of whom I bear record cometh, who is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear (or whose place I am not able to fill), as I said, I indeed baptize you before he cometh, that when he cometh, he may baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.
IV v. 38 (Inspired Version, 1867)

12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 12

And it is he of whom I shall bear record, whose fan shall be in his hand; and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but in the fullness of his own time will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
IV v. 39 (Inspired Version, 1867)

13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 13

And then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him;
IV v. 41 (Inspired Version, 1867)

14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 14

But John refused him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee. And why comest thou to me?
IV v. 42 (Inspired Version, 1867)

15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 15

And Jesus, answering, said unto him, Suffer me to be baptized of thee, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
IV v. 43 (Inspired Version, 1867)

16And 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:

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 16

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and John saw, and lo, the heavens were opened unto him; and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Jesus.
IV v. 45 (Inspired Version, 1867)

17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

JSTJoseph Smith Translation of v. 17

And lo, he heard a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him.
IV v. 46 (Inspired Version, 1867)

Also cited in commentary

1 Nephi 10 — The Coming Messiah, the Olive Tree in Seed, and the Doctrine of Personal Revelation
- The forerunner — and the named place
- Where this lands
1 Nephi 11 — The Condescension of God and the Catechetical Tree
- The Lamb's ministry — baptism, apostles, miracles
- Where this lands
2 Nephi 20 — Isaiah 10 — The Assyrian as the Lord's Rod, the Remnant Returns, the Cedars Cut Down
- The Lord punishes the Assyrian's pride
- Where this lands
2 Nephi 21 — Isaiah 11 — The Branch from the Stump of Jesse, the Sevenfold Spirit, and the Peaceable Kingdom
- Where this lands
2 Nephi 31 — The Doctrine of Christ — Baptism, the Holy Ghost, and the Strait Way
3 Nephi 11 — Behold, I Am Jesus Christ — The Descent of the Lord
- How the chapter is built
Alma 4 — Pride Enters the Church — Inequality at Zarahemla, Alma Yields the Judgment-Seat to Nephihah, and the Decision to Go Forth in Pure Testimony
- The chapter's architecture
- The prosperity of the Church and the baptism at the Sidon
Alma 6 — Reordering the Church at Zarahemla — the Laying On of Hands, the Discipline of the Unrepentant, and the Journey to Gideon
- The chapter's architecture
- The ordination and the discipline
Alma 7 — The Condescension at Gideon — He Shall Take Upon Him Their Infirmities, That His Bowels May Be Filled with Mercy, That He May Know According to the Flesh How to Succor His People
Alma 13 — After the Order of the Son of God — The High Priesthood, Foreordination, and Melchizedek the King of Salem
- The chapter's architecture
- The Melchizedek discourse
Alma 15 — Believest Thou in the Power of Christ unto Salvation — Zeezrom Healed, Amulek Forsakes All, and the Quiet Restoration at Sidom
- The chapter's architecture
- The church established at Sidom
Jacob 5 — The Allegory of the Olive Tree — Zenos on the Lord's Vineyard, the Wild Branches, and the Final Harvest
- Where this lands
Jacob 6 — Cleave Unto God — Jacob's Allegorical Exhortation and the Pleasing Bar of the Great Jehovah
- The exhortation
- Where this lands
Moroni 6 — Numbered Among the People of Christ — Baptism, and the Order of the Church
- How the chapter is built
Mosiah 18 — Waters of Mormon — The Baptismal Covenant, the Mourning-with-Them-that-Mourn, and the First Nephite Church
- The baptismal covenant
- Where this lands
Mosiah 21 — Limhi's Bondage Deepens — Three Defeats, Humbled to the Dust, the Lord Slow to Hear, and Many Desire Baptism but None Have Authority
- The desire for baptism deferred
- Where this lands
Mosiah 27 — The Angel, the Three Days of Death-Like Sleep, and the Born-Again — Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah Converted, the Earth Trembling, the Soul Redeemed from the Gall of Bitterness
- Where this lands
Doctrine and Covenants 13 — Upon You My Fellow Servants — The Priesthood of Aaron
- Where this lands
Doctrine and Covenants 33 — Open Your Mouths
- Where this lands
Doctrine and Covenants 65 — The Stone Cut Without Hands
- How this sits in the documentary record
- Where this lands
Nehemiah 6 — I Am Doing a Great Work — Nehemiah on the Wall, the Plain of Ono, the Hired Prophet, and the Fear That Would Not Land
- "I am doing a great work"
Joseph Smith-History 1 — Joseph Smith—History — the Boy in the Grove, the Angel at the Bedside, and the Oldest Pattern of All
- How this chapter changes the reader
- The grove

Cross-references are extracted from the project’s chapter essays — every link below points back into the original prose.

Public-domain text. The modern LDS edition with footnotes and chapter summaries is available on churchofjesuschrist.org ↗.

Study

Joseph Smith Translation

v. 1
And in those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
v. 3
For I am he who was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight.
v. 4
And the same John had his raiment of camels' hair and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
v. 5
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,
v. 6
And many were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
v. 8
Repent, therefore, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance;
v. 9
And think not to say within yourselves, We are the children of Abraham, and we only have power to bring seed unto our father Abraham; for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
v. 10
And now, also, the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire.
v. 11
I indeed baptize you with water, upon your repentance; and when he of whom I bear record cometh, who is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear (or whose place I am not able to fill), as I said, I indeed baptize you before he cometh, that when he cometh, he may baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.
v. 12
And it is he of whom I shall bear record, whose fan shall be in his hand; and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but in the fullness of his own time will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
v. 13
And then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him;
v. 14
But John refused him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee. And why comest thou to me?
v. 15
And Jesus, answering, said unto him, Suffer me to be baptized of thee, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
v. 16
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and John saw, and lo, the heavens were opened unto him; and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Jesus.
v. 17
And lo, he heard a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him.
insertion after v. 0
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is the child that is born, the Messiah of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard of the child, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them, saying, Where is the place that is written of by the prophets, in which Christ should be born? For he greatly feared, yet he believed not the prophets. And they said unto him, It is written by the prophets that he should be born in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus have they said, The word of the Lord came unto us, saying, And thou Bethlehem, which lieth in the land of Judea, in thee shall be born a prince, which art not the least among the princes of Judea; for out of thee shall come the Messiah, who shall save my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had called the wise men privily, inquired of them diligently at what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found the child, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child, with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a vision, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and tarry thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. And then he arose, and took the young child and the child's mother by night, and departed into Egypt, And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Ramah there was a voice heard: lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning—Rachael weeping for the loss of her children, and would not be comforted because they were not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a vision to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the stead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; but, notwithstanding, being warned of God in a vision, he went into the eastern part of Galilee; And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. And it came to pass that Jesus grew up with his brethren, and waxed strong, and waited upon the Lord for the time of his ministry to come. And he served under his father, and he spake not as other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any man should teach him. And after many years, the hour of his ministry drew nigh.
insertion after v. 7
Why is it that ye receive not the preaching of him whom God hath sent? If ye receive not this in your hearts, ye receive not me; and if ye receive not me, ye receive not him of whom I am sent to bear record; and for your sins ye have no cloak.
insertion after v. 12
Thus came John, preaching and baptizing in the river of Jordan, bearing record that he who was coming after him had power to baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire.
insertion after v. 15
And John went down into the water and baptized him.