Matthew 3:1-6 (NIV – Easy English Version)

Verse 1: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
Verse 2: He said, “Change your hearts and lives because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Verse 3: This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Verse 4: John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Verse 5: People went out to him from Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region of the Jordan.
Verse 6: They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.

Vocabulary

1. Wilderness: A place where very few people live, often dry or covered with trees and plants.
2. Preach: To speak publicly about God, teaching or encouraging people.
3. Prophet: A person chosen by God to speak His messages to people.
4. Baptize: To immerse someone in water as a sign of turning to God and starting a new life.
5. Confess: To admit sins or wrong actions, often in prayer or to another person.

Grammar Points

1. Imperative Mood:
   Example: “Change your hearts and lives because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
   Explanation: Commands or requests that tell someone to do something.

2. Relative Clauses:
   Example: “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah.”
   Explanation: The clause “who was spoken of” gives more information about “he.”

3. Simple Past Tense:
   Example: “People went out to him from Jerusalem.”
   Explanation: This shows an action completed in the past.