God’s Word Translation
Matthew 4:17
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 4:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- New International Version (NIV)From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
- New King James Version (NKJV)From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Context of Matthew 4:17
15“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, on the way to the sea, across the Jordan River, Galilee, where foreigners live! 16The people who lived in darkness have seen a bright light. A light has risen for those who live in a land overshadowed by death.” From 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!” 18As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen. 19Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish.”
Read all of Matthew 4Matthew 4:17 word by word
Ἀπὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν· μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- that timeτότεtote · thenG5119
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- beganἄρχομαιarchomai · to rule/beginG756
- to preachκηρύσσωkērussō · to preachG2784
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- to sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Repentμετανοέωmetanoeō · to repentG3340
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- is at handἐγγίζωeggizō · to come nearG1448
Cross-references for Matthew 4:17
- Mark 1:14After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and told people the Good News of God.
- Matthew 3:2“Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Matthew 9:13Learn what this means: ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices.’ I’ve come to call sinners, not people who think they have God’s approval.”
- Matthew 10:7As you go, spread this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
- Mark 1:15He said, “The time has come, and God’s kingdom is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News.”
- Luke 5:32I’ve come to call sinners to change the way they think and act, not to call people who think they have God’s approval.”
- Luke 9:2He sent them to spread the message about God’s kingdom and to cure the sick.
- Luke 10:11‘We are wiping your city’s dust from our feet in protest against you! But realize that God’s kingdom is near you!’
- 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 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.
- Acts 11:18When the others heard this, they had no further objections. They praised God by saying, “Then God has also led people who are not Jewish to turn to him so that they can change the way they think and act and have eternal life.”
- Acts 17:30“God overlooked the times when people didn’t know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act.
- Acts 20:21I warned Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and to believe in our Lord Jesus.
- Acts 26:20Instead, I spread the message that I first told to the ⌞Jewish⌟ people in Damascus and Jerusalem and throughout the whole country of Judea. I spread the same message to non-Jewish people. Both groups were expected to change the way they thought and acted and to turn to God. I told them to do things that prove they had changed their lives.
Commentaries on Matthew 4:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent - See on Matthew 3:1, Matthew 3:2; (note). Every preacher commissioned by God to proclaim salvation to a lost world, begins his work with preaching the doctrine of repentance. This was the case with all the prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, all the apostles, and all their genuine successors in the Christian ministry. The reasons are evident in the notes already referred to; and for the explanation of the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17See the notes at Matthew 3:2.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 It is just with God to take the gospel and the means of grace, from those that slight them and thrust them away. Christ will not stay long where he is not welcome. Those who are without Christ, are in the dark. They were sitting in this condition, a contented posture; they chose it rather than light; they were willingly ignorant. When the gospel comes, light comes; when it comes to any place, when it comes to any soul, it makes day there…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven was coming soon and urged people to repent (stop doing what is wrong) in preparation (see Matthew 3:2; 10:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand--Thus did our Lord not only take up the strain, but give forth the identical summons of His honored forerunner. Our Lord sometimes speaks of the new kingdom as already come--in His own Person and ministry; but the economy of it was only "at hand" until the blood of the cross was shed, and the Spirit on the day of Pentecost opened the fountain for sin and for…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 4:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 4
- 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
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