Mathewu 3 - IBHAYIBHELI ELINGCWELE

Ukushumayela kukaJohane uMbhapathizi

¹ Ngaleyo mihla kwavela uJohane uMbhapathizi eshumayela ehlane laseJudiya, ethi:

² “Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele!”

³ Ngokuba nguye akhuluma ngaye umprofethi u-Isaya, ethi: “Izwi lomemezayo ehlane, lithi: ‘Lungisani indlela yeNkosi, nenze imikhondo yayo iqonde.’ ”

⁴ Yena uJohane wayenengubo yoboya bekamela noqhotho lwesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe; ukudla kwakhe kwakuyizinkumbi nezinyosi zasendle.

⁵ Khona kwaphumela kuye iJerusalema, neJudiya lonke, nezwe lonke laseJordani,

⁶ babhapathizwa nguye emfuleni iJordani bevuma izono zabo.

⁷ Kepha kwathi ebona abaningi kubaFarisi nabaSadusi beza embhapathizweni, wathi kubo: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onibonise ukubalekela intukuthelo ezayo na?

⁸ Ngakho vezani izithelo ezifanele ukuphenduka.

⁹ Ningacabangi ukuba ningasho phakathi kwenu ukuthi: ‘Sinobaba u-Abrahama;’ ngokuba ngithi kini: UNkulunkulu angamvusela u-Abrahama abantwana kulawa matshe.

¹⁰ Izembe selibekiwe empandeni yemithi; ngakho yonke imithi engatheli izithelo ezinhle iyanqunywa, iphonswe emlilweni.

¹¹ “Mina nginibhapathiza ngamanzi, kube ngukuphenduka; kepha yena oza emva kwami unamandla kunami engingafanele ukuthwala izicathulo zakhe; yena uzakunibhapathiza ngoMoya oNgcwele nangomlilo,

¹² ombenge yakhe yokwela isesandleni sakhe; uzakushanelisisa isibuya sakhe, abuthele amabele enqolobaneni yakhe; kepha amakhoba uzakuwashisa ngomlilo ongacimekiyo.”

Ukubhapathizwa kukaJesu

¹³ Khona uJesu evela eGalile wafika kuJohane eJordani ukuba azobhapathizwa nguye.

¹⁴ Kepha uJohane wamalela wathi: “Yimi engiswela ukubhapathizwa nguwe; wena uza kimi na?”

¹⁵ UJesu waphendula, wathi kuye: “Vuma kalokhu, ngokuba kusifanele ukugcwalisa kanjalo ukulunga konke.” Khona wayesemvumela.

¹⁶ UJesu esebhapathiziwe wakhuphuka masinyane emanzini; bheka, izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya kaNkulunkulu ehla njengejuba, eza phezu kwakhe.

¹⁷ Bheka, kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: “Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo engithokozile ngayo.”