Matthew 3 2

Matthew 3:2 kjv

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 3:2 nkjv

and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

Matthew 3:2 niv

and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Matthew 3:2 esv

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Matthew 3:2 nlt

"Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. "

Matthew 3 verses

Matthew 3 2 Meaning

John the Baptist proclaimed an urgent message for all to undergo a radical change of heart and direction in their lives, because God's divine reign, personified and actualized in the coming Messiah, was now breaking into human history. This called for a complete turning away from sin and towards God's will.

Matthew 3 2 Context

Matthew 3:2 marks the beginning of John the Baptist's public ministry, serving as the immediate herald of the Messiah. The preceding verse introduces John in the wilderness of Judea, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3 as the voice preparing the way for the Lord. John's message directly precedes the arrival and ministry of Jesus, signifying a pivotal moment in salvation history. Historically, first-century Judaism was marked by a strong anticipation of the Messiah and a renewed kingdom of God. However, many interpretations of this kingdom were focused on earthly political liberation. John's call for "repentance" challenged the superficiality and legalism of some prevailing religious practices, especially among the Pharisees and Sadducees mentioned later in the chapter (Matt 3:7-10), demanding an internal, spiritual readiness rather than mere external rituals or assumed ethnic privilege.

Matthew 3 2 Word analysis

• Repent (Μετανοεῖτε, Metanoeite): This is an imperative verb, meaning it is a command. From the Greek metanoeō, a compound of meta (after, implying change) and noeō (to perceive, think, understand). It signifies a complete change of mind, perspective, and purpose. It's not merely expressing regret or remorse for past actions (lypeō), but a profound intellectual, emotional, and volitional turning – a decisive turning away from sin and toward God. It implies a reorientation of one's entire life.
• for (γάρ, gar): This conjunction introduces the reason or ground for the command that precedes it. It signals that repentance is not an arbitrary command, but a necessary response due to the imminence of the Kingdom.
• the kingdom of heaven (ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν, hē basileia tōn ouranōn): This phrase, frequently used by Matthew, is a Jewish circumlocution for "the Kingdom of God," used out of reverence for the divine name. It refers to God's sovereign rule and kingly authority. It is not primarily a physical or political territory but God's active, divine reign. This reign is both spiritual (experienced internally through submission to Christ) and eschatological (fully consummated in the future, yet already inaugurated by Christ's first coming). It represents the full redemptive and righteous rule of God breaking into human history.
• is at hand (ἤγγικεν, ēngiken): This verb is in the perfect active indicative tense, which conveys an action that occurred in the past and has continuing results in the present. It means "has drawn near," "has come close," "is imminent," or "has arrived and is presently active." It signifies that God's kingdom is not merely a distant future event, but has actually broken into the human realm through the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. Its presence demands an immediate and urgent response.
• "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (phrase analysis): This declarative sentence functions as John's prophetic sermon summary. It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship: the urgency of God's sovereign reign requires an immediate and radical reorientation of life. This phrase captures the essence of John's ministry and prefigures the core message of Jesus himself, establishing the criteria for entering into and participating in God's redemptive work. The proximity of the kingdom highlights the grace of God offering entry, but also carries a warning of judgment for those who refuse to change.

Matthew 3 2 Bonus section

The concept of "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" introduces the crucial theological theme of inaugurated eschatology—the idea that the end-times, specifically God's full sovereign rule, have begun with the first coming of Christ, even though their complete manifestation (consummation) is still future. This creates the "already, but not yet" tension of the Kingdom. John's message also served as a polemic against the complacency of those who relied solely on their Jewish heritage for salvation, demonstrating that true spiritual lineage demanded personal transformation. It set the stage for Jesus' later teachings, emphasizing that mere external conformity or lineage was insufficient without a transformed heart. The power of this short verse lies in its demand for immediate ethical and spiritual decision in light of God's present, breaking-in reign.

Matthew 3 2 Commentary

Matthew 3:2 succinctly encapsulates the foundational message of John the Baptist's ministry and serves as a vital bridge between the Old Testament prophetic tradition and the dawning of the New Covenant. John's emphatic call to "Repent" (a deep, transformative turning of one's whole being towards God) is a prerequisite for entering God's new order. This repentance is driven by the reality that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand"—God's long-awaited, sovereign rule has drawn near, manifesting in a tangible way through the imminent arrival of the Messiah, Jesus. This is not merely about political restoration but a spiritual reign that requires internal alignment with God's will. The message carries both a profound invitation to God's gracious presence and an urgent warning of impending divine assessment, urging a preparation of heart and life. Practically, this implies recognizing personal sin, confessing it, turning away from it, and choosing to follow God's way as revealed in Christ.