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“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
— Matthew 4:17 (NIV)
That is the central declaration of the public ministry of Jesus. It is the first recorded summary of His preaching after His testing in the wilderness. Everything that follows in the Gospels—His teachings, His miracles, His parables—must be understood in the light of this opening proclamation:
> “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
The song you have before you is not sentimental. It is a direct echo of the first command of Christ’s ministry. It confronts us with three great realities:
1. The kingdom of heaven is near.
2. The King Himself is present.
3. The only right response is repentance and faith.
No one can come into the kingdom of God without passing through the narrow gate of repentance. There is no spiritual maturity, no real deliverance, no deep fellowship with God, apart from a genuine, ongoing response to this command of Jesus: “Repent.”
Let us see what the Word of God says.
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The main scripture is Matthew 4:17:
> “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
To understand this, we must see where it stands in the unfolding of the Gospel.
### a. The Setting of Matthew 4
In Matthew 3, John the Baptist appears in the wilderness of Judea preaching exactly the same message:
> “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
> — Matthew 3:2
John is the forerunner. Jesus is the King. Yet both begin with the same word: repent.
Jesus has just:
It is at that point that Matthew says, “From that time on Jesus began to preach…” In other words, this is the launch of His public ministry.
### b. Who Was Jesus Speaking To?
He was speaking to Jews living in covenant with God, familiar with the Law and the Prophets, faithful in outward religion, yet inwardly estranged from God. Many of them were:
Jesus does not start with comfort. He starts with confrontation:
> “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
He does not say, “Everything is fine, just add Me to your life.”
He says, in effect, “God’s rule is breaking into history. Your present way of life, your present values, your present priorities cannot remain. You must turn.”
### c. The Urgency of the Kingdom
The Gospel of Mark echoes the same reality:
> “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
> — Mark 1:15
“The time has come”—the Greek word is *kairos*, meaning a decisive, appointed time, a season of God’s intervention. When the kingdom approaches, you do not respond casually. You either align with it or you resist it. Neutrality is impossible.
This is the background of the song’s repeated call:
“Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near.”
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Two key words open up this message: repent and kingdom.
### a. “Repent” – *metanoeō* (Greek)
The verb translated “repent” is μετανοέω (*metanoeō*). It is formed from *meta* (“after” or “change”) and *noeō* (“to think,” “to perceive,” “to understand”). Literally, it means:
Repentance is not merely feeling sorry. It is not mere emotion. It is a radical, decisive change in the way we think about:
True repentance has fruit. John the Baptist said:
> “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
> — Matthew 3:8
So repentance is an inward change that produces outward change. It is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction.
The song expresses this in simple words:
> “turn from your sin, draw close to God…
> repent and believe the good news.”
Repentance is turning from sin and turning to God. The Greek term includes both: a change of mind that results in a change of course.
### b. “Kingdom” – *basileia* (Greek) / *malkuth* (Hebrew)
The word translated “kingdom” is βασιλεία (*basileia*) in Greek, corresponding to the Hebrew concept מַלְכוּת (*malkuth*). Both words fundamentally mean:
It is not first a territory. It is a rule. When Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven has come near,” He means:
So the message could be paraphrased:
> “Change your whole way of thinking and living, because the rule of God is breaking into your world.”
The lyrics say:
> “The kingdom has come, the King is here…”
That is accurate. Where the King is, the kingdom is. The presence of Jesus is the presence of the rule of God. His miracles, His deliverances, His authority over demons—all are manifestations of the *basileia*, the kingdom.
---
We will move stanza by stanza and see how Scripture interprets Scripture.
### Verse 1
> From that time on Jesus began to preach,
> “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is a near direct quote of Matthew 4:17. It reminds us that repentance is not a marginal doctrine. It is foundational.
Hebrews 6:1 speaks of “the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.” Repentance comes first. Then faith.
Many today want faith without repentance. They want the blessings of the kingdom without surrender to the King. That is impossible. Jesus began His ministry not with, “Believe you are loved,” but with, “Repent.” Love is real, but it is not sentimental. Divine love confronts sin and calls for a decision.
Spiritual warfare begins here. Satan’s primary hold on a person is through unrepentant sin, wrong thinking, and rebellion against God’s rule. Repentance breaks his legal ground.
### Chorus
> Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near—
> turn from your sin, draw close to God.
> The kingdom has come, the King is here—
> repent and believe the good news.
The chorus captures the twofold response commanded in Mark 1:15:
> “Repent and believe the good news!”
Notice the order: repent, then believe.
Repentance is negative in one sense—you turn away. Faith is positive—you take hold of Christ and His promises.
“Turn from your sin” echoes Isaiah 55:7:
> “Let the wicked forsake their ways
> and the evil their thoughts.
> Let them turn to the Lord,
> and he will have mercy on them…”
This is important: repentance is not only turning from acts, but also from thoughts. The battlefield of repentance is the mind. Many believers seek deliverance from outward habits, but they refuse to renounce inner thought patterns: pride, resentment, lust, unbelief. Yet God says: “the evil their thoughts.”
To “draw close to God” brings to mind James 4:8:
> “Come near to God and he will come near to you.
> Wash your hands, you sinners,
> and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Notice the same sequence:
1. Draw near to God.
2. Wash your hands (outward actions).
3. Purify your hearts (inward attitudes).
Repentance bridges the gap between us and God. It removes what stands in the way.
“The kingdom has come, the King is here”—this points us to Luke 17:20–21:
> “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed…
> because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
In the person of Jesus, the King stands among His people. Where He is acknowledged as Lord, His kingdom is present.
### Verse 2
> “The time has come,” he said.
> “The kingdom of God has come near.
> Repent and believe the good news!”
This is almost verbatim from Mark 1:15. It introduces time into the equation: “The time has come.”
As mentioned, the Greek word is *kairos*—a decisive time, an opportunity that does not last forever. When the kingdom draws near, there is a now of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2):
> “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
To reject God’s call to repentance in a *kairos* moment is dangerous. The writer to the Hebrews warns:
> “Today, if you hear his voice,
> do not harden your hearts…”
> — Hebrews 3:7–8
There is a today in God, and there is a too late. The song picks this up in Verse 4:
> “The kingdom is near—
> repent and turn back to God today.”
Not tomorrow. Not when it is convenient. Today.
### Verse 3
> “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
> call on him while he is near.
> Let the wicked forsake their ways
> and the evil their thoughts.
> Let them turn to the Lord,
> and he will have mercy on them.”
This is drawn from Isaiah 55:6–7. It shows us the mercy of God in repentance.
1. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
There is an appointed season of opportunity. The presence of conviction, the stirring of the heart, is itself a sign that the Lord is near and can be found.
2. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the evil their thoughts.
Repentance includes both:
3. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them.
God’s response to genuine repentance is not condemnation but mercy. Mercy is God not giving us the judgment we deserve. It is rooted in His covenant love.
The next verse in Isaiah (55:8) explains why repentance must begin in our thinking:
> “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
> neither are your ways my ways,’
> declares the Lord.”
To enter the kingdom, our thoughts must be brought into alignment with God’s thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5), and our ways with His ways.
### Verse 4
> The kingdom is near—
> repent and turn back to God today.
This is a summarizing exhortation. It calls for decision. Where the kingdom is near, neutrality is rebellion. To delay is to resist. To “turn back to God” implies that man’s natural condition is one of distance and estrangement from God.
Isaiah 53:6 says:
> “We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
> each of us has turned to our own way…”
Repentance is reversing that direction. Instead of going our own way, we turn to His way.
### Spiritual Realities Involved
1. The Nature of God
2. The Condition of the Human Heart
3. Spiritual Warfare
4. The Gospel
---
We must move from theory to practice. Repentance is not a doctrine to admire; it is a command to obey. Here are four clear steps.
### 1. Acknowledge God’s Rule and Jesus’ Kingship
First, we must recognize that the “kingdom of heaven” is not optional spirituality—it is divine government. Jesus is not only Savior; He is Lord.
You cannot repent properly if you still think you are the final authority in your life. Repentance is a surrender of the will to the King.
Proclamation:
“Lord Jesus, You are King. Your kingdom has come near. I renounce my claim to rule my own life, and I submit to Your rule.”
### 2. Allow the Holy Spirit to Expose Sin and Wrong Thinking
Second, we must give the Holy Spirit permission to search us. True repentance is produced by the Spirit through the Word.
Pray as David prayed:
> “Search me, God, and know my heart;
> test me and know my anxious thoughts.
> See if there is any offensive way in me,
> and lead me in the way everlasting.”
> — **Psalm 139:23–
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