Matthew 4:17

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The word ‘repent’ is used twenty three times in the Old Testament and fifty seven times in the New Testament. Let us look at the origin and meaning of the word ‘repent’.

In Greek, “repent” is translated as “metanoia”, which means “to change one’s mind,” while in Hebrew, the word for “repent” is “teshubah”, meaning “to turn back” or “to return.”.

The term “metanoia” refers to a transformative change of heart, especially a spiritual conversion. In the New Testament, it is often used to describe the act of repenting from sin and turning towards God. This repentance involves a sincere turning away from past wrongdoings and a commitment to a new way of life aligned with God’s will.

The Hebrew word “teshubah” primarily denotes the concept of returning or turning back, often in the context of repentance. It signifies a change of mind and heart, a turning away from sin and a return to God. In the Hebrew Bible, it is frequently used to describe the act of repentance, where individuals or the nation of Israel turn back to God after a period of disobedience or idolatry.

Lord Jesus Christ, the very first thing that He preached was on repentance. In ancient Israel, the concept of repentance was deeply embedded in the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Law and the Prophets consistently called the Israelites to return to God, emphasizing that repentance was not merely an emotional response but a decisive action to realign one’s life with God’s will. 

Whether in the Old Testament or in the New Testament, God had a way to forgive people’s sins. The Covenantal promise was given to people living both in the Old and in the New Testament times. But there was a catch. The catch was that people had to repent before the covenantal promise would take into effect in their lives. A covenant is a binding contract between two parties.

The Israelites in the Old Covenant failed miserably. Because in the Old Covenant, the people who repented did not change internally. The inner man never changed. This is the reason God called the Israelites stiff necked people.

Exodus 32:9

⁹ And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!