Matthew 3:7-12 (NIV – Easy English Version)
Title: The Warning of John the Baptist
Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”
Matthew 3:8
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
Matthew 3:9
“And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
Matthew 3:10
“The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Matthew 3:11
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Matthew 3:12
“His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Words to Learn
- Repentance: A sincere turning away from sin to follow God.
- Wrath: Intense anger, often used to describe God’s righteous judgment.
- Fruit: Symbolic of actions or results that show true faith or change.
- Winnowing: Separating good from bad, like grain from chaff.
- Chaff: The useless part of grain that is thrown away or burned.
Grammar Points
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Direct Address in Sentences
Example: “You brood of vipers!” shows a direct address with an exclamation point.
Example Sentence: “Children, listen carefully!” -
Metaphorical Language
Phrases like “The axe is already at the root of the trees” use metaphor to convey deeper meaning.
Example Sentence: “Her words were a sharp knife cutting through the tension.” -
Future Tense with Certainty
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” indicates certainty about the future.
Example Sentence: “The sun will rise tomorrow without fail.”