Matthew 3:2
in Matthew 3and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
KJV
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
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This verse in Matthew 3
Commentary
6 notes on this verseJohn Baptist is the first to preach the Kingdom of Heaven, that the forerunner of the Lord may have this honourable privilege.
This site's exposition
preaching in the wilderness of Judea
on Matthew 3:1-3
John's ministry opens in those days, some three decades after chapter 2 with no exact date given, and his location itself preaches, since Israel's story keeps beginning in a wilderness, from the exodus onward. His message reduces to two words, repent, metanoia in the Greek, a change of mind and direction rather than mere regret, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, the first sounding of Matthew's own distinctive phrase against Mark and Luke's kingdom of God. Verse 3 supplies the chapter's first Old Testament citation, Isaiah 40:3's herald crying in the wilderness, read across the church as pointing directly to this man preparing the way of the Lord.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Is at hand - As if he had said, God is about to erect that kingdom, spoken of by Daniel, Dan. ii, 44; vii, 13, 14; the kingdom of the God of heaven. It properly signifies here, the Gospel dispensation, in which subjects were to be gathered to God by his Son, and a society to be formed, which was to subsist first on earth, and afterward with God in glory.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Repent - Μετανοειτε. This was the matter of the preaching. The verb μετανοεω is either compounded of μετα, 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.
on Matthew 3:1-12
These verses describe the ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ: it is a ministry that deserves close attention. Few preachers ever produced such effects as John the Baptist: “There went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan.”None ever received such praise from the great head of the church: Jesus called him “a burning and a shining light” ( John 5:35 ); the great Bishop of souls Himself declared, that “among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.”
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
A kingdom for which repentance was the proper preparation behooved to be essentially spiritual. Deliverance from sin, the great blessing of Christ's kingdom (Mt 1:21), can be valued by those only to whom sin is a burden (Mt 9:12). John's great work, accordingly, was to awaken this feeling and hold out the hope of a speedy and precious remedy.
The words behind it
9 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| λέγων· | legon | saying; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| μετανοεῖτε· | metanoeite | do repent; | G3340 → | 34 times |
| ἤγγικεν | engiken | has drawn near | G1448 → | 42 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλεία | basileia | kingdom | G932 → | 162 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὐρανῶν. | ouranon | heavens. | G3772 → | 272 times |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
λέγων·saying;
legonG3004 →1325 times
μετανοεῖτε·do repent;
metanoeiteG3340 →34 times
ἤγγικενhas drawn near
engikenG1448 →42 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
βασιλείαkingdom
basileiaG932 →162 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
οὐρανῶν.heavens.
ouranonG3772 →272 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 4:17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
it leads to
- Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 1:14–15
After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
- Acts 2:38
Through
Matthew 6:10Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
- Matthew 26:42
A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
- Matthew 12:50
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
- John 4:34
Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 10:36
Through
Mark 1:15“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
it leads to
- Acts 20:21
testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 20:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
By subject
Kingdom of God35 verses
About Matthew
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament.