Dear Family,
Today is Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Today is Day 46 and Day 4 of Week 7 in our Count to Pentecost.
Jesus gave us as Believers directives or teachings or sayings for us to live by.
Notice what Jesus stated in . . .
John 14:15 If ye love Me, keep My Commandments (directives).
Notice the wording in the . . .
(NASB) If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments (directives).
Also, notice Jesus’ words in . . .
Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said; It is written (Deut. 8:3), Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
And now, please go with me to . . .
John 12:49 (NIV) For I did not speak on My own, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me to say all that I have spoken.
Therefore Brethren, for us to be keeping Jesus’ directives; obviously words that proceeded out of the mouth of God, our Father; we must first acknowledge that this begins with recognizing what they are; and, we need to be asking ourselves; are we living by every Word of God?
Please know, there are over 1200 recorded directives/teachings/sayings of Jesus; and, everyone of them are recorded as words we are to be living by!
So Brethren, let’s notice one point. And, as we are doing this, we all need to be asking ourselves; am I living by them?
(1) Repent
Matthew 4:12-17 (12) Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee; (13) And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum (@29-30 miles), which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: (14) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, (15) The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; (16) The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. {Isaiah 9:1- 2} (17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say; Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Now, notice the parallel account in Mark.
Mark 1:14-15 (14) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) And saying; The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The Greek word used here for repent is metanoeó (met-an-o-eh’-o); and, it comes from two Greek words, metá; meaning, changed after being with; and, noiéō, meaning, think; that is; think differently after; after a change of mind; to repent (literally meaning); think differently afterwards; or, to change one’s mind or purpose; it begins with the mind or thinking.
Yet, since we know Matthew was originally written in Hebrew, let’s look at the Hebrew word for repent. The Hebrew word here for repent is, shub, meaning; to turn back, return.
Matthew 4:17 (Complete Jewish Bible) From that time on, Yeshua began proclaiming, “Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!”
Mark 1:14-15 (CJB) (14) After Yochanan/John had been arrested, Yeshua came into the Galil/Galilee proclaiming the Good News from God: (15) “The time has come, God‛s Kingdom is near! Turn to God from your sins and believe the Good News!”
Looking again at the Greek, we need to realize, since the Greek word for repent simply means, to change one’s mind; it is going to require some additional information; I mean, because we don’t know what to change our mind about; simply by just using the Greek usage.
And, as we should imagine, the Word of God gives us the needed additional/supplemental information here in Mark 1:15(B).
Mark 1:15(B) Repent ye, and believe the Gospel.
Therefore, we can see; to change our mind is referring us toward the Gospel/good news itself! The Gospel (good news) is what the change of mind is about.
Looking again at the Greek word, the sense is that it applies to anything and everything that would discourage a person from believing the Gospel (good news); that is, what Jesus is focusing on or talking about!
Whatever that-is-that-discourages a hearer of Jesus’ Words from believing His Words; the Word of God instructs us to think differently toward God and to believe the Good News!
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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