From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Parallel translations
- WEB From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
- KJV From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- NKJV From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- NASB From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
- NLT From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus begins preaching, 'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.' It summarizes the central message of His ministry.
Overview
From this point Jesus takes up the same call as John, but now as the King whose reign has drawn near in His own person. Repentance, a turning from sin to God, is the fitting response to the in-breaking kingdom. The verse frames everything that follows: Jesus brings God's reign and summons all people to receive it by faith and repentance.
Cross-references & the web
Theme
- The Kingdom of God"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Cross-references · 24
- Matt 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Mark 1:14–15After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
- Acts 2:38Peter 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.
- Luke 5:32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
- Luke 24:47and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Acts 17:30Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
- Matt 9:13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- Acts 26:20First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
- Luke 15:7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
- Acts 3:19Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
- Luke 15:10In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
- 2 Tim 2:25–26He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- Acts 20:21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Matt 13:47Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.
- Matt 25:1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- Acts 11:18When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
- Heb 6:1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,
- Matt 10:7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
- Luke 10:11–14‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’
- Luke 9:2And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
- Matt 11:12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.
- Matt 13:24Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
- Matt 13:9He who has ears, let him hear.”
- Matt 13:11He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 4:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.