Matthew 4:17 - Easy To Read Version From that time Jesus began to tell people \{what God wanted\}. This is what he said: “Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is coming soon.” Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. American Standard Version (1901) From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Common English Bible From that time Jesus began to announce, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!” Catholic Public Domain Version From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say: "Repent. For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near." Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. |
Since the time John the Baptizer came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been going forward strongly. {\cf2\super [138]} People using force have been trying to get the kingdom.
Jesus answered, “Only you can know the secret truths about the kingdom of heaven. Those other people cannot know these secret truths.
Then Jesus used another story to teach them. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man that planted good seed in his field.
“Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was put into the lake. The net caught many different kinds of fish.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten girls that went to wait for the bridegroom. {\cf2\super [383]} They brought their lamps with them.
John said, “Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is coming soon.”
We pray that your kingdom will come,\par and that the things you want\par will be done here on earth,\par the same as in heaven.\par
I will tell you something. Go and learn what it means: ‘I don’t want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.’ {\cf2\super [106]} I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners.”
In the same way, the angels of God are very happy when one sinner changes his heart.”
In the same way, I tell you, heaven is a happy place when one sinner changes his heart. There is more joy for that one sinner than there is for 99 good people that don’t need to change their hearts.
When Jesus began to teach, he was about 30 years old. People thought that Jesus was Joseph’s son. Joseph was the son of Eli.
I have not come to ask good people to change. I have come to ask bad people to change their hearts and lives!”
Jesus sent the apostles to tell about God’s kingdom and to heal the sick.
When the Jewish believers heard these things, they stopped arguing. They praised God and said, “So God is allowing the non-Jewish people to change their hearts and have life the same as us!”
In the past, people did not understand God, but God ignored this. But now, God tells every person in the world to change his heart and life.
Peter said to them, “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, {\cf2\super [42]} each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. {\cf2\super [43]}
I told all people—Jewish people and Greek (non-Jewish) people—to change their hearts and turn to God. I told them all to believe in our Lord Jesus.
I began telling people that they should change their hearts and lives and turn back to God. I told the people to do things that show that they really changed their hearts. I told these things first to people in Damascus. Then I went to Jerusalem and to every part of Judea and told these things to the people there. I also went to the non-Jewish people.
So you must change your hearts and lives! Come back to God and he will forgive your sins.
So we should be finished with the beginning lessons about Christ. We should not go back to the things we started with. We began \{our life in Christ\} by turning away from the evil things we did before and by believing in God.