I am a Jesus pusher!!! Matthew gives us insight into the core of Jesus’ preached message. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matthew 4:17). “To preach” is the broad view of His message. The Greek word (lego) translated “to say” is the narrow view of the content. It is an adverb giving content to the main verb, began. It paints the picture of laying things together or to collect.Jesus’ preaching was a discourse where significant words are linked together. It is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The foundation of repentance is the nearness of the Kingdom. The Greek word (gar) translated for is a causative particle. It is placed after one or more words in a clause to express the reason for what was previously presented. The call is to repent. The reason for such a response is the kingdom of heaven is at hand. One does not repent and the Kingdom comes. The Kingdom comes; we must respond by repentance. This is the Biblical order!Jesus, the King, comes to my life; I am drawn to the response of repentance. I could resist; why would I want to? All the provisions of the Kingdom are contained in Jesus. I can repent and embrace it all in Him. What a privilege! I am a Jesus pusher!!!