Matthew 4:14-17 - Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near

4:14-16

Matthew points out that this is a fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 9:1,2. We have here a precursor to the gospel going to all nations, and another example of God choosing what was despised by men. As mentioned above, the outside view of Galilee was a pretty low view, but that is no hindrance to God working! We all need to remember that, both when we look at ourselves, and when we look at others. If God decides He is going to work in an individual or a group of people, He will work in their lives, and what the world thinks of that person or persons is of little consequence.

4:17

The message of Jesus was the same as that of John the Baptist (Matt 3:2), “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”.In the first sermon in Acts Peter told the people to “repent and be baptised” (Acts 2:38). We seem rather reluctant to preach repentance today, but without repentance there is no gospel, and if we do not preach repentance as part of our message we should not fool ourselves into thinking we are preaching God’s word. Matthew’s use of the term “kingdom of heaven” is the same as “kingdom of God”, but Matthew is following the Jewish habit of being reluctant to even mention the name of God.