A lot of people are repainting their lifestyles daily moving from bad to worst instead of repenting of their sins for God to dwell in their body which is the temple of God.
It’s not surprising that Jesus as a pattern son started his public preaching with the word “REPENT” in Greek is metanoeo which means “to think differently”(Strong-Lite:G3340).
From that time Jesus began to preach,
saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand” (Matt 4:17)
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32)
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (Matt 12:41)
The first demand of Jesus’ public ministry was, “Repent.” He spoke this command indiscriminately to all who would listen. It was a call for radical inward change toward God and man.
The whole nation of Israel knew that a King was promised. Not even them alone, people from the far East were expectant of the Messiah King who was to come (Matt 2:1-2). But prior to the coming of the great King, there were all kinds of religious developments and traditions of elders that had no parallel with Hebrew prophecies such as Pharisees and Sadducees.
For about 450 years no voice of a true prophet of God was heard in Israel from Malachi to John the baptist. People had developed a rigid way of thinking over the years. They were bent on religious activities. They were unteachable,Knowledge was on the increase as there were doctors of the Law, scribes etc. All these could never have helped in comprehending the message of the Kingdom. Even John the Baptist told them to change their way of thinking for the message to make meaning in their lives.
SUCH MESSAGE IS NEEDED FOR UNDERSTANDING!
Understanding seems to be one of the most important words in the Bible. As a matter of fact, understanding is a fountain of life ONLY to those who have it (Proverbs 16:22). Understanding is crucial, not knowledge. It was knowledge that made Jews to crucify Jesus not understanding. The Man Jesus never fit into their kind of dreamt Messiah. They read and were expecting a conquering king not a skinny son of carpenter born in a manger.
Knowledge is information acquired while understanding is information comprehended. If you don’t understand the message, you cannot apply it. In other words, you cannot be a wise person in the Kingdom of God because wisdom (which is information applied) is a principal thing!
_“When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.”_(Matt 13:19)
Before science was invented, Jesus understood that the best time to learn and understand a language or culture or message better is when you’re a child.
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God”_ Luke 18:16
This is amazing! I pray God help us to hang over theologies somewhere in order to learn from him as little children with “plastic brains”. Amen.
