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譯本參照AFV  A  Faithful Version 的希臘文 2009版本

1. Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

2. And saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

3. For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.’ ”

4. Now John himself wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5. Then went out to him those from Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the country around the Jordan,

6. And were being baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7. But after seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath?

8. Therefore, produce fruits worthy of repentance;

9. And do not think to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

10. But already the axe is striking at the roots of the trees; therefore, every tree that is not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but the One Who is coming after me is mightier than I, of Whom I am not fit to carry His sandals; He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire;

12. Whose winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather His wheat into the granary; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

 (A Faithful Version)

1. 過了一段時日，施水禮的約翰就在猶大曠野之地傳道，

2. 說：天國近了，應當悔改！

3. 這人是先知以賽亞預告：在曠野有人大聲宣講：預備主的道，修直他的路。

4. 約翰這人，身穿駱駝毛的衣服，腰束皮帶，吃的是蝗蟲野蜜。

5. 有許多，從耶路撒冷、猶太全地，並約旦河一帶不同種族的人都來，

6. 承認他們的過犯，就在約旦河裡接受水禮。

7. 與此同時，許多法利賽人和撒都該人到來要求受禮，約翰就說：你等流著毒蛇血液的！誰預先警告你們，致使逃避將來的忿怒呢？

8. 除非，結出果子能與悔改的心相稱。

9. 不要自以為先祖是亞伯拉罕。要知道，耶和華能從石頭中給亞伯拉罕興起子孫萬代。

10. 要知斧頭就放在樹根，樹若不結出好果子，就砍下丟在火裡。

11. 我是用水給你們施禮，表明你們悔改；但那位將要來的，能力比我大，就是給他提鞋也不配。這位是用聖靈與火給你們施禮。

12. 而他手中拿著簸箕，將麥糠盡篩在地，把好的麥子收在糧倉；糠用不滅的火燒盡。

馬太這段描繪比起路加就豐富了許多細節。

傳道是一回怎樣的事？傳道不是千篇一律，單看四福音是較為完整，形式內容卻是不同，去介紹彌賽亞的到來，只有一個目的，重點各有不同。為此，馬太也沒有把約翰說這道當中包含那些內容是什麼，描述出來，也許就是讓人可以就自己的領受，暢所慾言。如果說是有，就只有一條：愛神愛人，方式就是為拯救作出自我的犧牲。

這段記述的重點似乎在於法利賽人和撒都該人到來要求受禮，而約翰心有明鏡似，體會出這些人只是求個保險。

求什麼個保險？因信得救。

約翰指出今時不同往日。亞伯拉罕一族，是因為相信這位創造者，一心的信靠，信心到一個地步連要獻上自己的單傳一脈，都不會不捨。與今日的法利賽人和撒都該人不同，這些人是滿腦子知識，卻沒有對耶和華有信心。在各樣條件之下，為自己買一個保險，又不用損失何樂而不為？反正將來的事，將來再算就是，不是說耶和華有慈愛且愛人到底？

這種心態被約翰這位心清志堅，被揀選去作彌賽亞的先鋒，一眼就看出這種動機不純的心思。為此提出一個警告：信與行為要一致。

約翰這份心思目光是獨有？看來不是，是每位承受那從天而來的差事，繼承耶穌的見證，延續福音的真義的每一位，都能辨別真心或者假意。因為清心的人得見彌賽亞作為又能心明耶和華的心意。作出辨別不同於批判，是認清事實以致更有效的幫助。

最後談到相信的人，不單是以受水禮為憑藉，而是相信之後，心靈的那份純良和機敏，並一顆火熱永不倒退的熱誠，才是真正的憑證。

這是二種不同的情況，對應二種不同參與認信的心態。一是糠粃一是真實的種子。似乎是可以憑藉外觀或者內心真實的反應，看出這人是糠粃或是麥子。當然，各人有各自的選擇，別人也無從改變。