Enduring Word and Commentary
Matthew 4:17
A general description of the message of Jesus.
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus began to preach: One might say that this was the main occupation of Jesus. He did heal and minister to many miraculously; but on the whole, it seems fair to say that Jesus was a preacher and teacher who healed, more than He was a healer who also preached and taught. This is the priority of Jesus’ ministry as stated in Matthew 4:23.
Repent: The gospel Jesus preached began the same place that the gospel John preached began – with a call to repentance (Matthew 3:2). In fact, since Jesus waited until John had been put in prison (Matthew 4:12), He probably saw Himself as picking up where John left off. But Jesus would go further than John ever did, because John announced the coming of the Messiah, and Jesus is the Messiah.