I used to think of the term “repent’ in a purely religious context.  To me it was associated visions of rain clouds and feelings of depression while I obsessed about everything I’ve ever done wrong.  Failure is an emotionally charged word to me.  I think this is because I used to think of it as moral failure.  But if I also consider that failure could mean the same as disappointment, missed opportunity, mistake, or any number of similar words then something exciting can happen.  I’m actually encouraged! 

To repent is an invitation to consider what is not working and do something different about it.  For instance the “what” can be something important like my family relationships or mundane like how I’m tracking my bank account.  Whether I’m experiencing a big or small failure I have the opportunity to reconsider my assumptions and actions to actually learn something from the failure and become better at the “what.”  For family matters, I can read a book or perhaps consult a professional.  For tracking my bank account, I can watch a YouTube video or ask someone who is doing it well.  Most importantly I have to do something different to achieve the success I want.

Gospel Message

Jesus was certainly talking about the spiritual and religious aspect of repentance in this command.  For His gospel message to have any benefit to me I have to consider what is not working in my life morally and be willing to think and do things differently by following what He says.

Click here for my personal application …or Scroll down for my full notes

Please share your thoughts or questions in the comments at the end.

COMMAND: “Repent…”
Mt 4:17; see also Mk 1:15

RECIPIENT:  

The people of Galilee in the vicinity of Capernaum

CONTEXT:  My notes  about the context of this command  

After Jesus was baptized by His cousin John the Baptist, John was imprisoned because he had offended the ruler of the land, Herod Antipas. (See Mt 14:3-5)

Mt 4:12-13, 17a Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; ¹³and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali…

^17aFrom that time Jesus began to preach and say…

COMMAND FULL TEXT AND IMMEDIATE RESULT:

Mt 4:17b “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.“

RESULT:

Mt 4:23-25 Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.
²⁴The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. ²⁵Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and {the} Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and {from} beyond the Jordan.

MY COMMENTS AND NOTES:

John the Baptist said in Matthew 3 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” and , “He who is coming after me is mightier than I. ” When John was imprisoned Jesus validated John’s words by repeating them and began to fulfill them with action.

DEFINITIONS: Key Greek Words – Understanding definitions removes ambiguity of the Bible text.

repent: μετανοέω met-an-o-eh’-ō — reconsider past personal failures and think differently and to actually make changes

at hand: ἐγγίζω eng-id’-zō — to come near

gospel: εὐαγγέλιον yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on — a reward for good tidings; a good message; After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the term was used to mean the message of Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross and bodily resurrection to procure eternal life for the people who believe the message and practice His teachings.

MY PERSONAL APPLICATION: I encourage you to make your own application

I am no different in that everyone has thought patterns and behaviors have been or still are hurtful and destructive. But, I will take heart because change is possible and I can begin today!  I’ll be open to recognize these thoughts and behaviors in myself and make the effort to change the direction of my thoughts and actions.  How to do this? Reading some good books by knowledgeable people is a good start.  I could be open to new thoughts by reading articles and books by people with different views than my own. By keeping an open mind while I listen to people who I know would disagree with me about certain subjects I think I could actually learn something new.  

Below, please share your comments , question or perhaps your own application for this command

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB

© 2018 Christopher Carlson WhatJesusSaidToDo.com