Matthew 4 17

Matthew 4:17 kjv

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

Matthew 4:17 nkjv

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

Matthew 4:17 niv

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Matthew 4:17 esv

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Matthew 4:17 nlt

From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. "

Matthew 4 verses

Matthew 4 17 Meaning

From this point forward, Jesus began His public ministry, proclaiming a foundational message: a demand for an internal, transformative change of mind and heart (repentance), because God's sovereign reign and power (the Kingdom of Heaven) has drawn near and is actively breaking into human history through His person and works. This declaration signals a new era in salvation history.

Matthew 4 17 Context

This verse marks a significant transition in Matthew's narrative and in Jesus' earthly ministry. Prior to this, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (Mat 3), affirmed as God's Son, and then underwent intense temptation in the wilderness (Mat 4:1-11). Immediately preceding verse 17, John the Baptist, Jesus' forerunner, is arrested (Mat 4:12), signifying the shift of prophetic focus from John to Jesus. Jesus then withdraws to Galilee, specifically Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah concerning "Galilee of the Gentiles" seeing a great light (Mat 4:13-16, Isa 9:1-2). Therefore, Matthew 4:17 inaugurates Jesus' public preaching mission, picking up the baton from John the Baptist, but with an amplified and central focus on His own person as the embodiment of the Kingdom. This message of "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" directly challenged the prevailing Jewish expectations of a purely political or military Messiah, emphasizing instead an inward spiritual transformation and God's active, reigning presence.

Matthew 4 17 Word analysis

• "From that time" (Greek: ἀπὸ τότε, apo tote):

  • Significance: This phrase is a crucial literary marker in Matthew's Gospel. It highlights a precise moment of commencement or a new stage in Jesus' life and ministry. Here, it denotes the inauguration of His public ministry of proclamation, distinct from His private life, baptism, or wilderness experience. It signifies a decisive turn, driven by the Holy Spirit's empowerment.

• "Jesus began to preach" (Greek: ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς κηρύσσειν, ērxato ho Iēsous kēryssein):

  • ἤρξατο (ērxato) - "began": Denotes a starting point of an ongoing activity.
  • κηρύσσειν (kēryssein) - "to preach": Derived from kēryx, a herald. This term signifies a public proclamation, an authoritative announcement of a message from a higher power. It's not primarily teaching or discussion but a declaration. Jesus comes as God's herald, announcing His Kingdom.

• "and to say" (Greek: καὶ λέγειν, kai legein):

  • This simple connective phrase indicates the specific content of Jesus' heralding. What He "says" is what He "preaches."

• "Repent" (Greek: Μετανοεῖτε, Metanoeite):

  • Significance: An imperative verb, demanding action. Derived from metanoeō.
  • Meaning: It means "to change one's mind," "to change one's purpose," "to reconsider," or "to turn." It signifies a radical transformation of one's whole outlook, leading to a reorientation of life. It implies more than just sorrow for sin (which is lypē); it is a decision to turn away from sin and toward God, often evidenced by corresponding actions (fruit of repentance). It echoes John the Baptist's identical call.

• "for" (Greek: γὰρ, gar):

  • Significance: A conjunction providing the reason or justification for the preceding imperative. The demand to repent is not arbitrary but is directly necessitated by the imminence of the Kingdom.

• "the kingdom of heaven" (Greek: ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν, hē basileia tōn ouranōn):

  • Significance: A central theme of Jesus' teaching, particularly in Matthew's Gospel, where it appears 32 times.
  • "Kingdom": Refers not to a geographical realm but to the reign, rule, or kingly authority of God.
  • "of heaven": Matthew uniquely uses "of heaven" (Genitive plural ouranōn), reflecting a Jewish circumlocution to avoid directly using God's name, out of reverence. It is synonymous with "the Kingdom of God" found in Mark and Luke. It emphasizes God's transcendent rule originating from His divine realm.
  • Theological Nuance: This Kingdom is both present (active in Jesus' person and works, already impacting lives) and future (to be fully consummated at His second coming).

• "is at hand" (Greek: ἤγγικεν, ēngiken):

  • Significance: From engizō, meaning "to come near," "to draw nigh," "to be imminent."
  • Meaning: It indicates immediate proximity, not necessarily full arrival or establishment. It suggests that the Kingdom is on the threshold, actively present and powerful through Jesus. It conveys urgency, implying that humanity is now confronted with God's reigning presence in a way never before experienced. This implies that God's promised sovereign rule has arrived in the person and ministry of Jesus.

Words-group Analysis

• "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say": This phrase marks a turning point and the official commencement of Jesus' Messianic mission. After a period of preparation and validation (baptism, temptation), He steps into the public arena to announce God's reign, no longer a hidden Messiah but an active herald.

• "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand": This is the pithy and powerful core of Jesus' early ministry message. It unites two inseparable concepts:

  1. Divine Imperative (Repent): God demands an inward, radical shift in allegiance and lifestyle, a turning from self-will and sin toward His righteous standard. It is a necessary precondition for engaging with the Kingdom.
  2. Divine Reality (Kingdom of Heaven is at hand): The reason for repentance is the immediate and active presence of God's saving, transformative rule through Jesus Christ. It implies opportunity, urgency, and the breakthrough of God's redemptive purpose into human experience. The message calls for immediate personal response to the newly revealed reign of God.

Matthew 4 17 Bonus section

The concept of "the kingdom of heaven" was subject to various interpretations in Jewish thought during Jesus' time. Many expected a political Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and restore a Davidic kingdom, bringing national glory. Jesus' message, however, emphasizes the "at hand" nature of God's rule, a spiritual dominion that impacts individuals internally first, rather than a primarily socio-political revolution. The use of "heaven" in "kingdom of heaven" in Matthew underscores the divine origin and transcendent nature of this rule, ensuring that its ultimate power rests with God, not human effort or earthly institutions. This message implies a direct polemic against nationalistic pride or self-righteousness, shifting the focus from external observance or ethnic privilege to an internal transformation prompted by God's sovereign initiative. The Kingdom's advent, therefore, confronts everyone with the call to a deep, personal commitment to God's will.

Matthew 4 17 Commentary

Matthew 4:17 serves as the seminal statement launching Jesus' public ministry. It is remarkably concise, yet profound, establishing the bedrock of His gospel message. Building upon John the Baptist's preparatory work, Jesus issues an identical command to "Repent," not merely as a change of outward behavior, but as a total transformation of one's inner being—a turning of mind, heart, and will toward God. This demand is intrinsically linked to the central claim: "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This does not mean the Kingdom is a distant future hope, but rather that God's authoritative reign and presence have drawn near in the person and deeds of Jesus. The divine government is breaking into the present reality, making repentance both necessary and urgent. It implies that in Christ, God's kingly rule, with all its saving power and transformative justice, is no longer remote but accessible and powerfully active, compelling an immediate, profound human response of reorientation towards God. This foundational truth demands action, not just belief, for a life aligned with God's purposes.