From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus's proclamation isn't just a repeat of John the Baptist's; the phrase "From that time" marks a brand-new stage for Jesus, where He is now the central herald. More than just announcing the kingdom, Jesus is now actively initiating it, functioning as His own herald.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After his baptism and temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returns to Galilee and makes his public ministry official, beginning in Capernaum. He steps into his prophetic role, echoing John the Baptist's call for repentance, but now as the King himself inaugurating the arrival of God's reign on earth. This marks a new, public stage of his work, distinct from his earlier, less formal interactions.
Jesus steps onto the public stage with a message mirroring John the Baptist's, but now it's His own. What's the significance of 'From that time' and the start of His proclamation?
The phrase 'From that time' marks a pivotal shift. While Jesus had been teaching and interacting with people previously, this moment signifies the official, public inauguration of His ministry as the King. It wasn't just a continuation of John's work; it was the beginning of Jesus' own distinct, royal proclamation.
A Herald's Call
Jesus uses the word 'preach' (which comes from a Greek word for a herald's public announcement) to describe His task. This wasn't casual conversation; it was a divine announcement that demanded attention. It was the primary message of salvation, the initial ringing call to a lost world.
The Royal Decree
This proclamation launched Jesus' prophetic office, which included making God's will known, gathering followers, and performing miracles to confirm His message. This was the starting point for His public ministry, setting the tone for everything that followed.
Jesus' very first public words are 'Repent.' Why is this seemingly harsh call to turn away from sin the essential entry point to God's kingdom?
The command to 'Repent' isn't just about feeling sorry for past mistakes. It's a radical call to a complete change of direction – a turning away from self-rule and towards God's rule.
Essential Preparation
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Repentance is presented as the necessary preparation for entering the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s about rightly orienting oneself towards God's reign, acknowledging His sovereignty, and aligning one's life with His will.
More Than Emotion
This wasn't merely an emotional plea but a call to a fundamental reorientation of one's entire life, involving a change in thinking, values, and actions. Without this inner and outer shift, one cannot truly embrace the reality of God’s reign.
Jesus announces 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' What does this 'kingdom' truly mean, and why is its closeness so revolutionary?
The 'Kingdom of Heaven' is a phrase Matthew often uses, essentially meaning the 'Kingdom of God.' It signifies God's active reign and rule – His presence and authority powerfully at work.
A Present Reality
'At hand' doesn't just mean 'coming soon'; it means 'here,' 'nearby,' 'ready to be grasped.' Jesus Himself is the inauguration of this kingdom. His presence, His miracles, and His teachings are the tangible signs that God's reign has broken into the world in a new and decisive way.
Heavenly Focus
By using the term 'Kingdom of Heaven,' Matthew subtly steers people away from expectations of a purely earthly, political kingdom. This emphasizes the spiritual, eternal, and heavenly nature of God's rule, inviting people to embrace heavenly realities rather than just earthly power.
Understand the original words
metanoeō · Greek Verb
A fundamental biblical concept involving a complete turn of mind and heart away from sin and toward God. It is not merely regret but an active change in direction and allegiance.
basileia tōn ouranōn · Greek Noun phrase
The sovereign rule and reign of God, both in the present reality of His influence in the hearts of believers and in the future consummation of His kingdom. It refers to the presence and authority of God breaking into history.
ēngiken · Greek Verb
This signifies that the expected arrival of the kingdom has reached a state of immediate proximity. It conveys that the time for decision and entry into God’s rule is now.
This verse marks the official launch of Jesus' public ministry, echoing John the Baptist's message but now delivered by the King Himself from His Galilean base.
c. AD 27-28
Jesus' Baptism and Temptation
Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, followed by forty days of temptation in the wilderness. This marks the divine endorsement and preparation for His public ministry.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus Begins Public Ministry
After His baptism and temptation, Jesus returns to Galilee and begins His public preaching and teaching ministry, starting in Capernaum.
c. AD 28
Calling of First Disciples
Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave their fishing businesses and follow Him, signifying the gathering of His core followers.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus Preaches Throughout Galilee
Jesus travels and teaches in synagogues and public places across Galilee, delivering foundational teachings like the Sermon on the Mount.
This passage mirrors Jesus' proclamation, showing that John the Baptist also began his ministry by calling people to repent because the kingdom was near, highlighting the consistent message of preparation for God's reign.
Acts 2:38Peter, echoing Jesus' initial call, commands repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins, demonstrating that this foundational message of turning from sin and embracing God's kingdom continued after Jesus' earthly ministry.
Romans 10:9-10This passage explains the essence of the kingdom's arrival by focusing on confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in his resurrection, connecting the outward call to repent with the inward faith required to enter God's rule.
Mark 1:15This parallel account emphasizes that Jesus' central message was the fulfillment of time and the invitation to repent and believe the good news, reinforcing the urgency and accessibility of God's kingdom.
barnesMatthew 4:17: "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
See the notes at Matthew 3:2 .
vincentMatthew 4:17: "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
To preach (κηρύσσειν)Originally, to discharge the duty of a herald (κήρυξ); hence to cry out, proclaim, (see on 2 Peter 2:5). The standing expression in the New Testament for the proclamation of the Gospel; but confined to the primary announcement of the message and facts of salvation, and not including continuous instruction in the contents and connections of the message, which is…
Jesus's proclamation isn't just a repeat of John the Baptist's; the phrase "From that time" marks a brand-new stage for Jesus, where He is now the central herald. More than just announcing the kingdom, Jesus is now actively initiating it, functioning as His own herald.
After his baptism and temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returns to Galilee and makes his public ministry official, beginning in Capernaum. He steps into his prophetic role, echoing John the Baptist's call for repentance, but now as the King himself inaugurating the arrival of God's reign on earth. This marks a new, public stage of his work, distinct from his earlier, less formal interactions.
After his baptism and temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returns to Galilee and makes his public ministry official, beginning in Capernaum. He steps into his prophetic role, echoing John the Baptist's call for repentance, but now as the King himself inaugurating the arrival of God's reign on earth. This marks a new, public stage of his work, distinct from his earlier, less formal interactions.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”" — Jesus's proclamation isn't just a repeat of John the Baptist's; the phrase "From that time" marks a brand-new stage for Jesus, where He is now the central herald. More than just announcing the king…
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Last reviewed October 2026