Matthew 4:12-17

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

In Mark 1:14-15 Jesus says, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and have faith in the gospel." The gospel of Matthew shortens this to a call for repentance because the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The author of the gospel of Matthew almost always uses the phrase "kingdom of heaven" rather than the phrase "kingdom of God" used by the authors of the gospels of Mark and Luke.

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus begins his ministry by announcing good news to the poor. But the gospel makes clear that Jesus has come to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32), and this ministry is taken up by the early church (Acts 2:38). The call to repentance and the promise of forgiveness are the heart of the gospel.

Grace and peace...Bob