Luke 3:3-19

³He went throughout the whole Jordan region, announcing to everyone that they needed to be baptized to show they had repented and their sins had been forgiven.

⁴As Isaiah the prophet wrote: “A voice was heard crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord: make his paths straight.

⁵Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. Crooked ways will be straightened, and rough roads will be smoothed.

⁶Every human being will see God's salvation.’”

⁷John addressed the crowds that came to him to be baptized. “You viper's brood! Who warned you to flee from the coming judgment?” he asked.

⁸“Demonstrate that you have truly repented. Don't try to justify yourselves by saying, ‘We're Abraham's descendants.’ Let me tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these stones.

⁹The ax is set to begin chopping at the base of the trees. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

¹⁰“So what should we do?” the crowds asked him.

¹¹“If you have two coats, then share with someone who doesn't have one. If you have food, then share with those who don't,” he told them.

¹²Some tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher, what should we do?” they also asked.

¹³“Don't collect any more tax than you're meant to,” he replied.

¹⁴“What about us?” some soldiers asked. “What should we do?” “Don't demand money with threats of violence. Don't make accusations that are untrue. Be satisfied with your wages,” he replied.

¹⁵The people were waiting expectantly, and wondered whether John himself might be the Messiah.

¹⁶John replied and explained to everybody, “Yes, I am baptizing you in water. But the one who is coming is more important than me, and I'm not worthy to undo his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

¹⁷His winnowing fork is in his hand and he's ready to separate the wheat from the chaff on his threshing floor. He'll gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with fire that can't be extinguished.”

¹⁸John gave many warnings like this as he announced the good news to the people.

¹⁹But when John reprimanded Herod the ruler for marrying Herodias, Herod's brother's wife, and for all the evil things he'd done,