Scriptural Reference: Matthew 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Academia: μετανοέω metanoeō; from 3326 and 3539; to change one’s mind or purpose:—repent(26), repented(5), repents(3).

Commonality: The common focus of this word is to change direction. It was a military term describing a soldier marching in one direction and doing an about-face, 180-degree turn.

Historical: The Jewish people would have understood Jesus’ call to repent in Matthew 4:17 because repentance (תְּשׁוּבָה – teshuvah) was already a core concept in Jewish religious life. However, their response to this call varied depending on their expectations, beliefs, and status in society.

Teaching: There is a lot to peel back with this imperative. The word means to change direction, as in I am heading East and I repent and I then head West.

Some would suggest Jesus’ imperative refers to the listeners’ sins and to turn from those sins towards righteousness, and this may be accurate, but is that all it refers or do we need to unpack what “sins” it refers to or leave it to be a broad brush that covers all unrighteousness?

There seems to be two parts in repenting. The change “from” and the change “to“; with the key being “change“.

Examples might be from unrighteous living to righteous living. From seeing the religions of man and my good works for a way of accessing God and His kingdom, to trusting in the work of Christ and His merit, sacrifice, and resurrection.

To have effectual change requires a change in one’s values (the things that are most valuable to us) and desires. So maybe repenting is to change my desire from anything that is displeasing to God, His Law, and His declared purpose.

This would then lead me to have a “family resemblance” with Him and my Father and be seen as a subject of His Kingdom.