LISTEN TO JESUS: REPENT

LISTEN TO JESUS

REPENT

MATTHEW 4:12-17

Matthew 4:12-14 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Susan: Jesus stayed on mission, focused. He did not make a special trip to see John the Baptist (his blood relative through Mary) in prison. I would have thought that His compassion might have taken Him off course long enough to comfort John. However, I do remember that when John’s disciples came to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah (Luke 7:19-23), Jesus sent them back with a message that would reassure John that Jesus was, indeed, the Son of God.

Susie: Matthew is setting the background for the beginning of Jesus’s public preaching ministry. Jesus has moved from His hometown of Nazareth and is dwelling in Capernaum and using it as His base of operations. This was not a random choice on His behalf. It was an integral part of the Father’s plan for His Son’s life as the God-Man on earth. Matthew (who writes mostly for the benefit of fellow Jews) points out that this location was prophesied by Isaiah and quotes from Isaiah 9:1-2.

Matthew 4:15-16 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Susie: The regions of Zebulon and Naphtali had been the first taken captive by the Assyrians (see 2 Kings 15:29). Now they would be the first to hear the message of the Messiah preached publicly.

Susan: The ancesters of the people in this region of Galilee had endured the darkness of captivity in Assyria. And now these offspring groped in darkness awaiting the light of their Redeemer, the Messiah.

Susie: Matthew and John both identify Jesus as this long-awaited Light of the world. John the Baptist bore witness to the fact that Jesus was the Son of God, the One who would shine God’s light into a dark world.

John 1:8-9 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Susie: Jesus would echo the message of John the Baptist that people needed to prepare for God’s kingdom by repenting of their sin.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Susie: “Repent” is a word we throw around in religious circles, but do we have a clear understanding of its meaning? Can you expound on this word, Susan?

Susan: Simply put, to repent is to turn away from sin and run toward God. After you escape from a path following sin, you cling to God and as if dancing the waltz, you stay in hold. Let’s look at our favorite dictionary and the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance for specific definitions:

The American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828.

5. In theology, to sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

repent ³³⁴⁰ μετανοέω metanoéō, met-an-o-eh'-o; from G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction): — repent.

Susan: Sometimes looking up a definition leads us to investigate another word. “Compunction” isn’t a word we use every day!

The American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828.

COMPUNCTION, noun [Latin To prick or sting.]

1. A pricking; stimulation; irritation; seldom used in a literal sense.

1.                A pricking of heart; poignant grief or remorse proceeding from a consciousness of guilt; the pain of sorrow or regret for having offended God, and incurred his wrath; the sting of conscience proceeding from a conviction of having violated a moral duty.

Susie: Therefore, we might conclude that to “repent” is to respond to the pricking of our hearts by the Holy Spirit often the result of someone wielding the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). What reason did Jesus give to spur the people to repentance?

Susan: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We looked up the Greek word translated “at hand” and found that it could mean “to approach” or in this case “approaches.” Jesus was making the kingdom of Heaven accessible to us.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:

ἤγγικεν (ēngiken)

Verb – Perfect Indicative Active – 3^rd Person Singular

Strong’s Greek 1448: Trans: I bring near; intrans: I come near, approach. From eggus; to make near, i.e. approach.

Susan: I really appreciate The Passion Translation here because I deal with physical accessibility issues all the time. I appreciate the efforts my co-minister and roommate has made to ensure that our home is accessible for my wheelchair. Jesus bridges the gap between God’s standard (The Old Testament Law) and His Kingdom. I could never access Heaven by my own strength to obey God, but I can repent of my sin, run to God and trust Jesus to be my ramp into the Kingdom!

Matthew 4:17 (TPT) From that time on Jesus began to proclaim his message with these words: “Keep turning away from your sins and come back to God, for heaven’s kingdom realm is now accessible. Praise the Lord!

Ponder this and Apply it: We cannot truly repent until the Holy Spirit pricks our consciences making us aware that our sin separates us from a Holy God. Repentance is not an effort on our part: it is an acceptance of the truth that we cannot approach God on our own merit. We then turn from our sinful way of life and embrace the fact that Jesus paid the price for our sin on the cross. Jesus lived on earth as a man to bring the message that He is the way to Heaven, to peace with Father God. He stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6b). Jesus is the only access ramp to the eternal Kingdom of God. There is no stairway of works to Heaven. We must trust in, rely on Jesus alone.