the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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Read the Bible
King James Version
Matthew 3:2
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
John said, "Change your hearts and lives, because God's kingdom is now very near."
saynge; Repet the kyngdome of heue is at honde.
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!"Daniel 2:44; Matthew 4:17; 10:7;">[xr]
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
John said, "Change your hearts and lives because the kingdom of heaven is near."
and saying, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
"Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God's purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"
And saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
"Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand."
and seide, Do ye penaunce, for the kyngdom of heuenes shal neiye.
saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
He said, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here."
Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Saying, Let your hearts be turned from sin; for the kingdom of heaven is near.
"Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!"
and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.
and saying, Repent! the kingdom of heaven hath drawn nigh.
and said: Repent; the kingdom of heaven hath approached.
And saying, Repent yee: for the kingdome of heauen is at hand.
"Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
He said, "Be sorry for your sins and turn from them! The holy nation of heaven is near."
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
And said, Repent: for the kingdome of heauen is at hand.
Saying, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is near.
saying, Repent ye, - for the kingdom of the heavens hath drawn near.
And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Repent, for the kingdome of heauen is at hande.
"Turn away from your sins," he said, "because the Kingdom of heaven is near!"
and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”
"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!"
and saying, Repent! For the kingdom of Heaven has drawn near.
and saying, `Reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens,'
saynge: Amede youre selues, the kyngdome of heuen is at honde.
and saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of the Messiah draws nigh."
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
and tellin' folks, "Make right your minds, for God's Green Pasture is near."
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Repent: Matthew 4:17, Matthew 11:20, Matthew 12:41, Matthew 21:29-32, 1 Kings 8:47, Job 42:6, Ezekiel 18:30-32, Ezekiel 33:11, Mark 1:4, Mark 1:15, Mark 6:12, Luke 13:3, Luke 13:5, Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10, Luke 16:30, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 11:18, Acts 17:30, Acts 20:21, Acts 26:20, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Timothy 2:25, Hebrews 6:1, 2 Peter 3:9, Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:21
for: Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:10, Matthew 5:19, Matthew 5:20, Matthew 6:10, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 10:7, Matthew 11:11, Matthew 11:12, Matthew 13:11, Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:45, Matthew 13:47, Matthew 13:52, Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 18:23, Matthew 20:1, Matthew 22:2, Matthew 23:13, Matthew 25:1, Matthew 25:14, Daniel 2:44, Luke 6:20, Luke 9:2, Luke 10:9-11, John 3:3-5, Colossians 1:13
Reciprocal: Job 39:12 - gather Psalms 95:7 - if ye Psalms 96:10 - the Lord Isaiah 51:5 - righteousness Isaiah 56:1 - Keep Matthew 7:13 - at Matthew 8:11 - in Matthew 9:13 - but Matthew 22:3 - sent Mark 4:26 - So Luke 16:16 - the kingdom Luke 21:8 - and the time Acts 1:3 - speaking Romans 14:17 - kingdom
Cross-References
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And saying, repent ye,.... The doctrine which John preached was the doctrine of repentance; which may be understood either of amendment of life and manners; for the state of the Jews was then very corrupt, all sorts of men were grown very wicked; and though there was a generation among them, who were righteous in their own eyes, and needed no repentance; yet John calls upon them all, without any distinction, to repent; and hereby tacitly strikes at the doctrine of justification by works, which they had embraced, to which the doctrine of repentance is directly opposite: or rather, this is meant, as the word here used signifies, of a change of mind, and principles. The Jews had imbibed many bad notions. The Pharisees held the traditions of the elders, and the doctrine of justification by the works of the law; and the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead; and it was a prevailing opinion among them all, and seems to be what is particularly struck at by John, that the Messiah would be a temporal king, and set up an earthly kingdom in this world. Wherefore he exhorts them to change their minds, to relinquish this notion; assuring them, that though he would be a king, and would have a kingdom, which was near at hand, yet it would be a heavenly, and not an earthly one. Hence the manner in which John enforces his doctrine, or the reason and argument he uses to prevail upon them to regard it, is by saying,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand: by which is meant not the kingdom of glory to be expected in another world; or the kingdom of grace, that is internal grace, which only believers are partakers of in this; but the kingdom of the Messiah, which was "at hand", just ready to appear, when he would be made manifest in Israel and enter upon his work and office: it is the Gospel dispensation which was about to take place, and is so called; because of the wise and orderly management of it under Christ, the king and head of his church by the ministration of the word, and administration of ordinances; whereby, as means, spiritual and internal grace would be communicated to many, in whose hearts it would reign and make them meet for the kingdom of glory; and because the whole economy of the Gospel, the doctrines and ordinances of it are from heaven. This phrase, "the kingdom of heaven" is often to be met with in Jewish writings; and sometimes it stands opposed to the "kingdom of the earth" r; by it is often meant the worship, service, fear, and love of God, and faith in him: thus in one of their books s having mentioned those words, "serve the Lord with fear": it is asked, what means this phrase, "with fear?" It is answered, the same as it is written, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"; and this is
××××ת ש××× "the kingdom of heaven". And elsewhere they t ask, "what is the kingdom of heaven?" To which is answered, "the Lord our God is one Lord". Yea, the Lord God himself is so called u, and sometimes the sanctuary; and sometimes they intend by it the times of the Messiah, as the Baptist here does; for so they paraphrase w those words,
"the time of the singing of birds, or of pruning, is come; the time for Israel to be redeemed is come; the time for the uncircumcision to be cut off is come; the time that the kingdom of the Cuthites (Samaritans or Heathens) shall be consumed is come; and the time ×©× ××××ת ש××× ×©×ª××× that "the kingdom of heaven shall be revealed" is come, as it is written, "and the Lord shall be king over all, the earth."''
Very pertinently does John make use of this argument to engage to repentance; since there cannot be a greater motive to it, whether it regard sorrow for sin, and confession of it, or a change of principles and practice, than the grace of God through Christ, which is exhibited in the Gospel dispensation: and very appropriately does he urge repentance previous to the kingdom of heaven; because without that there can be no true and cordial embracing or entering into the Gospel dispensation, or kingdom of heaven; that is, no real and hearty receiving the doctrines, and submitting to the ordinances of it. Nor ought the Jews above all people to object to John's method of preaching; since they make repentance absolutely necessary to the revelation of the Messiah and his kingdom, and redemption by him; for they say x in so many words, that
"if Israel do not repent, they will never be redeemed; but as soon as they repent, they will be redeemed; yea, if they repent but one day, immediately the son of David will come.''
r Bereshit Rabba, fol. 7. 4. s Zohar in Exod. fol 39. 2. t Debarim Rabba, fol. 237. 2. u Zohar in Gen. fol. 112. 3. w Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 11. 4. x T. Hieros. Taanith, fol. 63. 4. & 64. 1. & Bab. Sanhed. fol. 97. 2.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Repent ye - Repentance implies sorrow for past offences 2 Corinthians 7:10; a deep sense of the evil of sin as committed against God Psalms 51:4; and a full purpose to turn from transgression and to lead a holy life. A true penitent has sorrow for sin, not only because it is ruinous to his soul, but chiefly because it is an offence against God, and is that abominable thing which he hates, Jeremiah 44:4. It is produced by seeing the great danger and misery to which it exposes us; by seeing the justice and holiness of God Job 42:6; and by seeing that our sins have been committed against Christ, and were the cause of his death, Zechariah 12:10; Luke 22:61-62. There are two words in the New Testament translated ârepentance,â one of which denotes a change of mind, or a reformation of life; and the other, sorrow or regret that sin has been committed. The word used here is the former, calling the Jews to a change of life, or a reformation of conduct. In the time of John, the nation had become extremely wicked and corrupt, perhaps more so than at any preceding period. Hence, both he and Christ began their ministry by calling the nation to repentance.
The kingdom of heaven is at hand - The phrases kingdom of heaven, kingdom of Christ, kingdom of God, are of frequent occurrence in the Bible. They all refer to the same thing. The expectation of such a kingdom was taken from the Old Testament, and especially from Daniel, Daniel 7:13-14. The prophets had told of a successor to David that should sit on his throne 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Kings 8:25; Jeremiah 33:17. The Jews expected a great national deliverer. They supposed that when the Messiah should appear, all the dead would be raised; that the judgment would take place; and that the enemies of the Jews would be destroyed, and that they themselves would be advanced to great national dignity and honor.
The language in which they were accustomed to describe this event was retained by our Saviour and his apostles. Yet they early attempted to correct the common notions respecting his reign. This was one design, doubtless, of John in preaching repentance. Instead of summoning them to military exercises, and collecting an army, which would have been in accordance with the expectations of the nation, he called them to a change of life; to the doctrine of repentance - a state of things far more accordant with the approach of a kingdom of purity.
The phrases âkingdom of Godâ and âkingdom of heavenâ have been supposed to have a considerable variety of meaning. Some have supposed that they refer to the state of things in heaven; others, to the personal reign of Christ on earth; others, that they mean the church, or the reign of Christ in the hearts of his people. There can be no doubt that there is reference in the words to the condition of things in heaven after this life. But the church of God is a preparatory state to that beyond the grave - a state in which Christ pre-eminently rules and reigns and there is no doubt that the phrases sometimes refer to the state of things in the church; and that they may refer, therefore, to the state of things which the Messiah was to set up his spiritual reign begun in the church on earth and completed in heaven.
The expression âthe kingdom of heaven is at handâ would be best translated, âthe reign of God draws near.â We do not say commonly of a kingdom that it is movable, or that it approaches. A reign may be said to be at hand; and it may be said with propriety that the time when Christ would reign was at hand. In this sense it is meant that the time when Christ should reign, or set up his kingdom, or begin his dominion on earth, under the Christian economy, was about to commence. The phrase, then, should not be confined to any period of that reign, but includes his whole dominion over his people on earth and in heaven.
In the passage here it clearly means that the coming of the Messiah was near, or that the time of the reign of God which the Jews had expected was coming.
The word âheaven,â or âheavens,â as it is in the original, means sometimes the place so called; and sometimes it is, by a figure of speech, put for the Great Being whose residence is there, as in Daniel 4:26; âthe Heavens do rule.â See also Mark 11:30; Luke 15:18. As that kingdom was one of purity, it was proper that the people should prepare themselves for it by turning from their sins, and by bringing their hearts into a state suitable to his reign.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 3:2. Repent — μεÏανοειÏε. This was the matter of the preaching. The verb μεÏÎ±Î½Î¿ÎµÏ is either compounded of μεÏα, after, and νοειν to understand, which signifies that, after hearing such preaching, the sinner is led to understand, that the way he has walked in was the way of misery, death, and hell. Or the word may be derived from μεÏα after, and ανοια, madness, which intimates that the whole life of a sinner is no other than a continued course of madness and folly: and if to live in a constant opposition to all the dictates of true wisdom; to wage war with his own best interests in time and eternity; to provoke and insult the living God; and, by habitual sin, to prepare himself only for a state of misery, be evidences of insanity, every sinner exhibits them plentifully. It was from this notion of the word, that the Latins termed repentance resipiscentia, a growing wise again, from re and sapere; or, according to Tertullian, Resipiscentia, quasi receptio mentis ad se, restoring the mind to itself: Contra Marcion, lib. ii. Repentance, then, implies that a measure of Divine wisdom is communicated to the sinner, and that he thereby becomes wise to salvation. That his mind, purposes, opinions, and inclinations, are changed; and that, in consequence, there is a total change in his conduct. It need scarcely be remarked, that, in this state, a man feels deep anguish of soul, because he has sinned against God, unfitted himself for heaven, and exposed his soul to hell. Hence, a true penitent has that sorrow, whereby he forsakes sin, not only because it has been ruinous to his own soul, but because it has been offensive to God.
The kingdom of heaven is at hand — Referring to the prophecy of Daniel, Daniel 7:13-14, where the reign of Christ among men is expressly foretold. This phrase, and the kingdom of God, mean the same thing, viz. the dispensation of infinite mercy, and manifestation of eternal truth, by Christ Jesus, producing the true knowledge of God, accompanied with that worship which is pure and holy, worthy of that God who is its institutor and its object. But why is this called a kingdom? Because it has its laws, all the moral precepts of the Gospel: its subjects, all who believe in Christ Jesus: and its king, the Sovereign of heaven and earth. N. B. Jesus Christ never saved a soul which he did not govern; nor is this Christ precious or estimable to any man who does not feel a spirit of subjection to the Divine will.
But why is it called the kingdom of HEAVEN? Because God designed that his kingdom of grace here should resemble the kingdom of glory above. And hence our Lord teaches us to pray, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. The kingdom of heaven is not meat and drink, says St. Paul, Romans 14:17; does not consist in the gratification of sensual passions, or worldly ambition; but is righteousness, peace, and joy, in the Holy Ghost. Now what can there be more than this in glory? Righteousness, without mixture of sin; peace, without strife or contention; joy, in the Holy Ghost, spiritual joy, without mixture of misery! And all this, it is possible, by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, to enjoy here below. How then does heaven itself differ from this state? Answer. It makes the righteousness eternal, the peace eternal, and the joy eternal. This is the heaven of heavens! The phrase, kingdom of heaven, ××××ת ש××× malcuth shamayim, is frequently used by the rabbinical writers, and always means, the purity of the Divine worship, and the blessedness which a righteous man feels when employed in it.
It is farther added, This kingdom is at hand. The dispensation of the glorious Gospel was now about to be fully opened, and the Jews were to have the first offers of salvation. This kingdom is also at hand to us; and wherever Christ crucified is preached, there is salvation to be found. JESUS is proclaimed to thee, O man! as infinitely able and willing to save. Believe in his name - cast thy soul upon his atonement, and enter into rest!
