The Meaning of Matthew 4:17 Explained

Matthew 4:17

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

YLT: From that time began Jesus to proclaim and to say, 'Reform ye, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens.'

Darby: From that time began Jesus to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.

ASV: From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Matthew 4:17 Mean?

Study Notes

kingdom See note 2, (See Scofield " Matthew 5:2 ") .
is at hand . For Another Point of View: See Topic 301207
at hand
"At hand" is never a positive affirmation that the person or thing said to be "at hand" will immediately appear, but only that no known or predicted event must intervene. When Christ appeared to the Jewish people, the next thing in the order of revelation as it then stood, should have been the setting up of the Davidic kingdom. In the knowledge of God, not yet disclosed, lay the rejection of the kingdom (and King), the long period of the mystery-form of the kingdom, the world-wide preaching of the cross, and the out-calling of the Church. But this was as yet locked up in the secret counsels of God. Matthew 13:11 ; Matthew 13:17 ; Ephesians 3:3-10 .
kingdom See note 2, .
is at hand . For Another Point of View: See Topic 301207
And he opened his mouth
Having announced the kingdom of heaven as "at hand," the King, in Matthew 5-7, declares the principles of the kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount has a twofold application:
(1) literally to the kingdom. In this sense it gives the divine constitution for the righteous government of the earth. Whenever the kingdom of heaven is established on earth it will be according to that constitution, which may be regarded as an explanation of the word "righteousness" as used by the prophets in describing the kingdom (e.g.) Isaiah 11:4 ; Isaiah 11:5 ; Isaiah 32:1 ; Daniel 9:24 In this sense the Sermon on the Mount is pure law, and transfers the offence from the overt act to the motive. Matthew 5:21 ; Matthew 5:22 ; Matthew 5:27 ; Matthew 5:28 . Here lies the deeper reason why the Jews rejected the kingdom. They had reduced "righteousness" to mere ceremonialism, and the Old Testament idea of the kingdom to a mere affair of outward splendour and power. They were never rebuked for expecting a visible and powerful kingdom, but the words of the prophets should have prepared them to expect also that only the poor in spirit and the meek could share in it (e.g.) Isaiah 11:4 . The seventy-second Psalm, which was universally received by them as a description of the kingdom, was full of this. For these reasons, the Sermon on the Mount in its primary application gives neither the privilege nor the duty of the Church. These are found in the Epistles. Under the law of the kingdom, for example, no one may hope for forgiveness who has not first forgiven. Matthew 6:12 ; Matthew 6:14 ; Matthew 6:15 . Under grace the Christian is exhorted to forgive because he is already forgiven. Ephesians 4:30-32 .
(2) But there is a beautiful moral application to the Christian. It always remains true that the poor in spirit, rather than the proud, are blessed, and those who mourn because of their sins, and who are meek in the consciousness of them, will hunger and thirst after righteousness, and hungering, will be filled. The merciful are "blessed," the pure in heart do "see God." These principles fundamentally reappear in the teaching of the Epistles.
saying The beatific character, unattainable by effort, is wrought in the believer by the Spirit, Galatians 5:22 ; Galatians 5:23 . For Another Point of View: See Topic 301232

Verse Meaning

The clause "From that time Jesus" (Gr. apo tote epxato Iesous) is very significant in Matthew"s Gospel. The writer used it only twice, here and in Matthew 16:21, and in both instances it indicates a major change in Jesus" ministry. [1] Here it signals the beginning of Jesus" public preaching that the kingdom was "at hand." Until now, His ministry had been to selected individuals and groups, which John"s Gospel records. Jesus "went public" after John had ended his ministry of preparing Israel for her Messiah. Here Jesus took up exactly the same message that John had been preaching (cf. Matthew 3:2). It is exactly the same statement in the Greek text. The better translations have also rendered these sentences identically. In Matthew 16:21, having been rejected by Israel, Jesus announced His approaching passion and resurrection. The verb "to begin" (erxato) indicates the beginning of an action that continues, or it describes a new phase in the narrative, wherever it occurs. [2]
Jesus used the same words as John , and Hebrews , too, offered no explanation of their meaning. Clearly Jesus" concept of the kingdom was the same as that of the prophets and John. Some commentators claim that John"s concept of the kingdom was eschatological but Jesus" was soteriological. [3] However there is no basis for this distinction in the text. Both John and Jesus viewed the kingdom as having both soteriological and eschatological elements. Now the King began announcing the nearness of the earthly kingdom of Messiah and urged His subjects to prepare themselves spiritually.
"The kingdom being at hand meant that it was being offered in the person of the prophesied King, but it did not mean that it would be immediately fulfilled." [4]
"Christ came to found a Kingdom, not a School; to institute a fellowship, not to propound a system." [5]
Normative (traditional) dispensationalists-such as Walvoord, Pentecost, Toussaint, Barbieri, Bailey, and myself-believe that the kingdom was postponed due to Jewish rejection of the Messiah. Progressive dispensationalists believe that it began with Jesus" earthly ministry and continues through the church but that it will also have a future manifestation in the Millennium. [6]
Matthew wrote "kingdom of heaven" whereas Mark and Luke usually wrote "kingdom of God" in the parallel passages. This was probably because Matthew wrote to Jews who used the word "heaven" instead of "God" to avoid unduly familiarizing the ear with the sacred name. [7]

Context Summary

Matthew 4:12-17 - The Light Begins To Shine
Our Lord's earliest ministry seems to have been centered in Jerusalem and its contiguous villages. See John 2:1-25; John 3:1-36. But on the news of the Baptist's imprisonment, He took up His testimony to the hearers of the heavenly kingdom, which is the reign of God over the hearts and lives of men. Someone has said that it is "the universal awareness of God." Yet there was a difference! At the commencement of His work, the Savior showed a tenderness and a winsomeness which were very inviting to the crowds of harried sheep. See Matthew 9:36. His ministry resembled the gentle, holy dawn that breaks over the mountains and dispels the black shadows of the night. The evangelist quotes the prophet's anticipation of the coming of Him who is called "Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God." Oh, do not be afraid when Jesus comes to your heart! You may be as far away from goodness and purity as Naphtali and Zebulun from Jerusalem, but Galilee of the Gentiles is included in John 3:16. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 4

1  Jesus, fasting forty days,
3  is tempted by the devil and ministered unto by angels
12  He dwells in Capernaum;
17  begins to preach;
18  calls Peter and Andrew,
21  James and John;
23  teaches and heals all the diseased

Greek Commentary for Matthew 4:17

Began Jesus to preach [ηρχατο ο Ιησους κηρυσσειν]
In Galilee. He had been preaching for over a year already elsewhere. His message carries on the words of the Baptist about “repentance” and the “kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 3:2) being at hand. The same word for “preaching” (κηρυσσειν — kērussein) from κηρυχ — kērux herald, is used of Jesus as of John. Both proclaimed the good news of the kingdom. Jesus is more usually described as the Teacher, (ο διδασκαλος — ho didaskalos) who taught (εδιδασκεν — edidasken) the people. He was both herald and teacher as every preacher should be. [source]
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 expressed by διδάσκειν (to teach). Both words are used in Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 11:1). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 4:17

Matthew 21:29 Repented [μεταμεληθεὶς]
This is a different word from that in Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; μετανοεῖτε , Repent ye. Though it is fairly claimed that the word here implies all that is implied in the other word, the New Testament writers evidently recognize a distinction, since the noun which corresponds to the verb in this passage ( μεταμέλεια ) is not used at all in the New Testament, and the verb itself only five times; and, in every case except the two in this passage (see Matthew 21:32), with a meaning quite foreign to repentance in the ordinary gospel sense. Thus it is used of Judas, when he brought back the thirty pieces (Matthew 27:3); of Paul's not regretting his letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 7:8); and of God (Hebrews 7:21). On the other hand, μετανοέω , repent, used by John and Jesus in their summons to repentance (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17), occurs thirty-four times, and the noun μετάνοια , repentance (Matthew 3:8, Matthew 3:11), twenty-four times, and in every case with reference to that change of heart and life wrought by the Spirit of God, to which remission of sins and salvation are promised. It is not impossible, therefore, that the word in this passage may have been intended to carry a different shade of meaning, now lost to us. Μεταμέλομαι , as its etymology indicates ( μετά , after, and μέλω , to be an object of care), implies an after-care, as contrasted with the change of mind denoted by μετάνοια . Not sorrow for moral obliquity and sin against God, but annoyance at the consequences of an act or course of acts, and chagrin at not having known better. “It may be simply what our fathers were wont to call hadiwist (had-I-wist, or known better, I should have acted otherwise)” (Trench). Μεταμέλεια refers chiefly to single acts; μετάνοια denotes the repentance which affects the whole life. Hence the latter is often found in the imperative: Repent ye (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19); the former never. Paul's recognition of the distinction (2 Corinthians 7:10) is noteworthy. “Godly sorrow worketh repentance ( μετάνοιαν ) unto salvation,” a salvation or repentance “which bringeth no regret on thinking of it afterwards” ( ἀμεταμέλητον )There is no occasion for one ever to think better of either his repentance or the salvation in which it issued. [source]
Romans 2:21 Thou that preachest [ὁ κηρύσσων]
See on Matthew 4:17. Stealing is so gross a vice that one may openly denounce it. [source]
Romans 10:8 We preach [κηρύσσομεν]
See on Matthew 4:17, and see on preacher, 2 Peter 2:5. [source]
1 Corinthians 1:21 Through its wisdom [δια της σοπιας]
Article here as possessive. The two wisdoms contrasted. Knew not God (ουκ εγνω — ouk egnō). Failed to know, second aorist (effective) active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō solemn dirge of doom on both Greek philosophy and Jewish theology that failed to know God. Has modern philosophy done better? There is today even a godless theology (Humanism). “Now that God‘s wisdom has reduced the self-wise world to ignorance” (Findlay). Through the foolishness of the preaching Perhaps “proclamation” is the idea, for it is not κηρυχις — kēruxis the act of heralding, but κηρυγμα — kērugma the message heralded or the proclamation as in 1 Corinthians 1:23. The metaphor is that of the herald proclaiming the approach of the king (Matthew 3:1; Matthew 4:17). See also κηρυγμα — kērugma in 1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Timothy 4:17. The proclamation of the Cross seemed foolishness to the wiseacres then (and now), but it is consummate wisdom, God‘s wisdom and good-pleasure The foolishness of preaching is not the preaching of foolishness. To save them that believe (σωσαι τους πιστευοντας — sōsai tous pisteuontas). This is the heart of God‘s plan of redemption, the proclamation of salvation for all those who trust Jesus Christ on the basis of his death for sin on the Cross. The mystery-religions all offered salvation by initiation and ritual as the Pharisees did by ceremonialism. Christianity reaches the heart directly by trust in Christ as the Saviour. It is God‘s wisdom. [source]
1 Corinthians 1:21 Through the foolishness of the preaching [δια της μωριας του κηρυγματος]
Perhaps “proclamation” is the idea, for it is not κηρυχις — kēruxis the act of heralding, but κηρυγμα — kērugma the message heralded or the proclamation as in 1 Corinthians 1:23. The metaphor is that of the herald proclaiming the approach of the king (Matthew 3:1; Matthew 4:17). See also κηρυγμα — kērugma in 1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Timothy 4:17. The proclamation of the Cross seemed foolishness to the wiseacres then (and now), but it is consummate wisdom, God‘s wisdom and good-pleasure The foolishness of preaching is not the preaching of foolishness. To save them that believe (σωσαι τους πιστευοντας — sōsai tous pisteuontas). This is the heart of God‘s plan of redemption, the proclamation of salvation for all those who trust Jesus Christ on the basis of his death for sin on the Cross. The mystery-religions all offered salvation by initiation and ritual as the Pharisees did by ceremonialism. Christianity reaches the heart directly by trust in Christ as the Saviour. It is God‘s wisdom. [source]
James 2:8 If ye fulfil [ει τελειτε]
Condition of first class, assumed as true with ει — ei and present active indicative of τελεω — teleō old verb, to bring to completion, occurring in Romans 2:27 also with νομος — nomos (law). Jesus used πληροω — plēroō in Matthew 4:17. James has τηρεω — tēreō in James 2:10.The royal law (νομον βασιλικον — nomon basilikon). Old adjective for royal, regal (from βασιλευς — basileus king), as of an officer (John 4:46). But why applied to νομος — nomos The Romans had a phrase, lex regia, which came from the king when they had kings. The absence of the article is common with νομος — nomos (James 4:11). It can mean a law fit to guide a king, or such as a king would choose, or even the king of laws. Jesus had said that on the law of love hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40), and he had given the Golden Rule as the substance of the Law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12). This is probably the royal law which is violated by partiality (James 2:3). It is in accord with the Scripture quoted here (Leviticus 19:18) and ratified by Jesus (Luke 10:28). [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 4:17 mean?

From that time began - Jesus to proclaim and to say Repent has drawn near for the kingdom of the heavens
Ἀπὸ τότε ἤρξατο Ἰησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν Μετανοεῖτε ἤγγικεν γὰρ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν

τότε  that  time 
Parse: Adverb
Root: τότε  
Sense: then.
ἤρξατο  began 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἄρχω  
Sense: to be the first to do (anything), to begin.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
κηρύσσειν  to  proclaim 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: κηρύσσω  
Sense: to be a herald, to officiate as a herald.
λέγειν  to  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Μετανοεῖτε  Repent 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: μετανοέω  
Sense: to change one’s mind, i.
ἤγγικεν  has  drawn  near 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐγγίζω  
Sense: to bring near, to join one thing to another.
βασιλεία  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: βασιλεία  
Sense: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐρανῶν  heavens 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.