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“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
— Matthew 4:17
Let us look at what the Word of God says. This simple sentence marks the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. It is not a casual statement, it is a divine announcement. It is the King declaring His kingdom. It is heaven’s summons to earth.
The central theme of the lyrics you have given is exactly the central theme of Jesus’ own preaching: repentance in the light of the nearness of the Kingdom of God.
Notice the order in Matthew 4:17:
1. Repent
2. For (because)
3. The kingdom of heaven has come near
Jesus does not preach a vague message of comfort. He preaches a sharp message of confrontation: a change is required, because a greater reality has arrived. The Kingdom has drawn near. Heaven’s government has come into contact with earth’s rebellion. When the Kingdom comes near, man cannot remain neutral.
The lyrics echo that same order:
> “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.”
So we have three key themes:
1. Repent
2. The Kingdom is near
3. Believe the good news
Repentance and faith are the only right response to the nearness of the Kingdom. Anything less is disobedience.
### The setting of Matthew 4:17
Matthew 4:17 comes at a critical turning point:
Now the Messiah steps forward in public ministry. Notice Matthew 4:16:
> “The people living in darkness
> have seen a great light;
> on those living in the land of the shadow of death
> a light has dawned.”
Immediately after that, Matthew writes:
> “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
The context is darkness, spiritual death, and divine light breaking in. Into this darkness, the Kingdom comes near in the person of the King Himself.
### The parallel in Mark 1
The lyrics also cite Mark’s version:
> “[Verse 2] ‘The time has come,’ he said.
> ‘The kingdom of God has come near.
> Repent and believe the good news!’”
Mark 1:14–15 reads:
> “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
> ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’”
Two additional elements appear in Mark:
The King is not merely inviting people to private spirituality. He is proclaiming a new government, a new order. That demands a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of allegiance.
### The prophetic background: Isaiah 55
Verse 3 of the lyrics quotes Isaiah 55:6–7:
> “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.”
Isaiah is speaking to a covenant people who have drifted. They are still “religious,” but far from God in heart and practice. God calls them to:
Jesus steps into history fulfilling that very prophetic call. In Him, the Lord has drawn near. In Him, mercy is available. But there is a time factor: the opportunity is not permanent. There is a “while.” That word introduces urgency into the gospel.
To understand the message of this song, we must understand two crucial words: repent and kingdom.
### 1. “Repent” – metanoeō (Greek)
The word translated “repent” in Matthew 4:17 and Mark 1:15 is the Greek verb μετανοέω (metanoeō). It is formed from two parts:
Literally, it means “to change the mind,” or more fully, “to change one’s way of thinking and perceiving in such a way that it results in a change of direction and behavior.”
Biblical repentance is not:
Biblical repentance is a decisive change of mind, heart, and direction about God, about sin, and about oneself.
When Jesus says, “Repent,” He is saying:
Repentance is the doorway into the Kingdom. Without repentance, there is no entry, no matter how much one “believes” in some vague sense.
### 2. “Kingdom” – basileia (Greek) / malkuth (Hebrew)
The word for “kingdom” is βασιλεία (basileia) in Greek. Its Hebrew background is מַלְכוּת (malkuth).
Both words primarily mean “rule, reign, authority, kingship” before they mean “realm” or “territory.”
So when Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven has come near,” He is saying:
The kingdom is not first a place, it is first a reign. And that reign is focused in a Person: the King, Jesus the Messiah.
Now place those two words together:
Repentance is the appropriate response to the arrival of God’s rule. When a new king takes the throne, allegiance must change. Old loyalties must be renounced. Old ways must be abandoned.
This gives weight to the line in the song:
> “The kingdom has come, the King is here—
> repent and believe the good news.”
The nearness of the Kingdom is not an abstract idea. It is the presence of the King Himself.
### Verse 1: The Beginning of Jesus’ Preaching
> “From that time on Jesus began to preach,
> ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
This verse states the program of Jesus’ entire public ministry. Everything He did—teaching, healing, deliverance, signs, and wonders—was an outworking of this message.
The first word of Jesus’ message is not “comfort,” but “repent.” God’s comfort is for those who accept His terms. The Kingdom does not adjust to us; we adjust to the Kingdom.
### Chorus: The Call and Its Two Directions
> “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.”
Here we have the two directions of true repentance:
1. Turn from your sin
2. Draw close to God
Many people want to draw close to God without turning from sin. Scripture never offers that option.
Repentance is both negative and positive:
“Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15) shows that repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. You cannot truly turn to Christ in faith without turning from sin in repentance.
### Verse 2: The Fulness of Time
> “‘The time has come,’ he said.
> ‘The kingdom of God has come near.
> Repent and believe the good news!’”
“The time has come” uses the Greek word kairos, a decisive, opportune, God-appointed moment. There are times when God draws near in a special way. To miss those moments is dangerous.
The nearness of the Kingdom introduces urgency. It is not something to be politely postponed. When God draws near, delay is disobedience.
The “good news” is that God’s reign has come in mercy before it comes in final judgment. The King first offers a royal pardon, purchased by His own blood, before He returns to judge the living and the dead.
But the pardon is only for those who accept the King’s terms: repent and believe.
### Verse 3: The Prophetic Echo from Isaiah 55
> “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 stanza uncovers the heart of God behind the command to repent.
Notice the sequence:
1. “Seek the Lord while he may be found.”
2. “Call on him while he is near.”
3. “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the evil their thoughts.”
4. “Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them.”
There is a “while.” God’s nearness is an opportunity, but not an entitlement. To assume He will always be available in the same way is presumption.
Repentance here is not only about outward actions (“ways”) but also about inner life (“thoughts”). God does not merely want us to change what we do; He wants us to change how we think.
This verse exposes the condition of the human heart:
However, the promise is equally strong:
> “Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them.”
Mercy is not automatic; it is conditional. It is granted to those who turn. God is rich in mercy, but He does not bless rebellion. He blesses repentance.
### Verse 4: The Present Appeal
> “The kingdom is near—
> repent and turn back to God today.”
This stanza applies the message directly to the hearer. It emphasizes two critical truths:
1. The kingdom is near – not merely in the past, when Jesus walked on earth; not only in the future, when He returns; but now, through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Repent…today – the right time to respond is always “today.”
The spiritual warfare dimension is this: when God’s Word confronts you with the command to repent, there will be spiritual resistance. The flesh resists; the world distracts; demons lie. They will tell you:
To say “tomorrow” when God says “today” is already disobedience. Delay opens a door for deception and hardening of heart.
### The Repeated Chorus: A Kingdom Confrontation
> “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.”
Every time the chorus is repeated, it functions as a fresh kingdom confrontation.
The gospel is not primarily an invitation to a better life. It is a royal summons from the King. The only right answer is repentance and faith.
Repentance is not a one-time emotion. It is a decisive act followed by an ongoing lifestyle. How do we walk in the reality of this message?
### First, we must agree with God about our sin
Repentance begins when we stop arguing with God and start agreeing with Him.
The Greek word for “confess” (homologeō) means “to say the same thing as.” We must:
Ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light:
> “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 139:23–24)
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