KINGDOM KONCEPTS: Matthew 4:17,23

 

Mathew 4: 17,  23

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Here the call to repent goes so much beyond a change in behaviour. Jesus has to call every faction that would have been in his audience to “turn their thinking around” as to WHAT the kingdom of heaven was about and who would enter it and how.  _________________ Good news. What would constitute “good news” to these hearers? That they were not denied access to the kingdom of heaven. It was not going to depend on Pharisaical laws, position of birth, social status etc. but on attitude and relationship.