God’s Word Translation
Matthew 3:2
2“Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Matthew 3:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- New International Version (NIV)and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
- New King James Version (NKJV)and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Context of Matthew 3:2
1Later, John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea. His message was, “Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3Isaiah the prophet spoke about this man when he said, “A voice cries out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!’ ” 4John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.
Read all of Matthew 3Matthew 3:2 word by word
καὶ λέγων· μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Matthew 3:2
- Matthew 4:17From then on, Jesus began to tell people, “Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!”
- Matthew 11:20Then Jesus denounced the cities where he had worked most of his miracles because they had not changed the way they thought and acted.
- Matthew 12:41The men of Nineveh will stand up with you at the time of judgment and will condemn you, because they turned to God and changed the way they thought and acted when Jonah spoke his message. But look, someone greater than Jonah is here!
- Matthew 21:29“His son replied, ‘I don’t want to!’ But later he changed his mind and went.
- 1 Kings 8:47If they come to their senses, are sorry for what they’ve done, and plead with you in the land where they are captives, saying, ‘We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have been wicked,’
- Job 42:6That is why I take back what I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show that I am sorry.”
- Ezekiel 18:30“That is why I will judge each of you by what you have done, people of Israel,” declares the Almighty Lord. “Change the way you think and act. Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin.
- Ezekiel 33:11“Tell them, ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, I don’t want wicked people to die. Rather, I want them to turn from their ways and live. Change the way you think and act! Turn from your wicked ways! Do you want to die, people of Israel?’
- Mark 1:4John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
- Mark 6:12So the apostles went and told people that they should turn to God and change the way they think and act.
- Luke 13:3No! I can guarantee that they weren’t. But if you don’t turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die.
- Luke 15:7I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.”
- Luke 16:30“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! If someone comes back to them from the dead, they will turn to God and change the way they think and act.’
- Luke 24:47Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.
- Acts 2:38Peter answered them, “All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift.
- Acts 3:19So change the way you think and act, and turn ⌞to God⌟ to have your sins removed.
Commentaries on Matthew 3:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Repent - . This was the matter of the preaching. The verb is either compounded of , after, and 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. Or the word may be derived from after, and , madness, which intimates that the whole life of a sinner is no other than a continued course of madness and folly: and if to live in a constant…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Repent ye - Repentance implies sorrow for past offences 2 Corinthians 7:10; a deep sense of the evil of sin as committed against God Psalm 51:4; and a full purpose to turn from transgression and to lead a holy life. A true penitent has sorrow for sin, not only because it is ruinous to his soul, but chiefly because it is an offence against God, and is that abominable thing which he hates, Jeremiah 44:4. It is produced by seeing the great danger and misery…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The prophetic call to return to God means turning away from pride and sin and choosing humble obedience to God (compare Isaiah 1:16–20 and Jeremiah 3:11–22). John’s message included specific practical advice (Luke 3:11–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. And saying, Repent ye--Though the word strictly denotes a change of mind, it has respect here (and wherever it is used in connection with salvation) primarily to that sense of sin which leads the sinner to flee from the wrath to come, to look for relief only from above, and eagerly to fall in with the provided remedy. for the kingdom of heaven is at hand--This sublime phrase, used in none of the other Gospels, occurs in this peculiarly Jewish Gospel…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 3:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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