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Matthew 3 Bible study: The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand
In Matthew, John says it first: his first words, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" (3:2), are the words Jesus preaches when he begins (4:17), and John's "You offspring of vipers" (3:7) and his words on the tree that is "cut down, and cast into the fire" (3:10) come back from Jesus too (12:34, 7:19).
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“Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””
Try it · Did you catch it?
“In Matthew, John preaches "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" before Jesus preaches the same words.”
Is that in Matthew 3, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
John says it first
John's first words in Matthew are "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" (3:2) (tap Kingdom). When Jesus begins to preach, his words are "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (4:17). The WEB punctuates the two verses differently; in the Greek the words are the same. Later Jesus sends out the twelve and tells them, "As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’" (10:7). Here is what almost everyone misses: in Matthew, John says it first. This is also the first time the WEB has Kingdom of Heaven: it has the words in 31 verses, all of them in Matthew. Mark gives Jesus's first preaching in other words: "The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News" (Mark 1:15).
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Matthew 3
That was a taste
The rest of Matthew 3 is waiting in Favor
- Spoken of by Isaiah the prophet
- "Allow it now"
- John's words, again from Jesus
- Beside Mark 1
- What other chapters set beside this one
- 11 questions as you read
- 12 more Greek words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Matthew 3 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.
The Greek word behind it
βασιλείαbasileiasay bas-il-EE-ah
Strong's: "properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm". Thayer: "royal power, kingship, dominion, rule". John preaches, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" (3:2). This is the first time Matthew has the word. Matthew's Greek has it 56 times, more than any other book of the New Testament (counted in RP2018, the Greek text the WEB translates). The WEB has Kingdom of Heaven in 31 verses, all in Matthew; Matthew also has God’s Kingdom, as in "seek first God’s Kingdom" (6:33). See the honest question on the two.
For your group
Matthew 3 Bible study questions
- 1"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" (3:2). What is one thing in your life right now that you need to repent of?
- 2John said, "Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’" (3:9). What are you tempted to lean on instead of turning to God yourself?
- 3John said of the one coming after him, "whose sandals I am not worthy to carry" (3:11). When do you find it hardest to point away from yourself to Jesus?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Matthew 3 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
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Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
How much does it cost?
Your first week is free. After that it's $10 a month per person, the same for everyone, including groups and churches. There are no tiers and nothing extra to unlock.
Can I read Matthew 3 straight away?
Matthew is open from your first day, and its chapters open one after another, so you'll reach Matthew 3 with everything before it in view. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.
Do I need a group?
No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.
I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?
Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.
Which Bible does Favor use?
The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.
Is Favor tied to a church?
No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home