The Herald of the Messiah

3 In those days John the Baptist came,^(A) preaching in the wilderness of Judea^{(B) 2} and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” ^{(C) 3} For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said:

Ministry in Galilee

¹² When he heard that John had been arrested,^(A) he withdrew into Galilee.^{(B) 13} He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum^(C) by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. ¹⁴ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁷ From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven^(E) has come near.”

The First Disciples

¹⁸ As^(F) he was walking along the Sea of Galilee,^(G) he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for^[c] people.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Teaching, Preaching, and Healing

²³ Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee,^(H) teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every^[d] disease and sickness^[e] among the people.^{(I) 24} Then the news about him spread throughout Syria.^(J) So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics.^(K) And he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.^(L)

²¹ “But if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed,^(A) keeps all my statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die. ²² None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him.^(B) He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.^{(C) 23} Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” ^(D) This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives? ²⁴ But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness^(E) and acts unjustly, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered.^(F) He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.

²⁵ “But you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’^(G) Now listen, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair? ²⁶ When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, he will die for this. He will die because of the injustice he has committed. ²⁷ But if a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life. ²⁸ He will certainly live because he thought it over and turned from all the transgressions he had committed; he will not die. ²⁹ But the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ Is it my ways that are unfair, house of Israel? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair?

³⁰ “Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.”^(H) This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Repent and turn from all your rebellious acts, so they will not become a sinful stumbling block to you. ³¹ Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.^(I) Why should you die, house of Israel? ³² For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!

God’s Call for Repentance

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 Therefore, every one of you^[a](A) who judges is without excuse.^(B) For when you judge another,^(C) you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. ³ Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you despise the riches of his kindness,^(D) restraint,^(E) and patience,^(F) not recognizing^[b] that God’s kindness^(G) is intended to lead you to repentance? ⁵ Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath^(H) for yourself in the day of wrath,^(I) when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. ⁶ He will repay each one according to his works:^{[c](J) 7} eternal life^(K) to those who by persistence in doing good^(L) seek glory, honor,^(M) and immortality;^{(N) 8} but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking^(O) and disobey the truth^(P) while obeying unrighteousness. ⁹ There will be affliction and distress^(Q) for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;^{(R) 10} but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. ¹¹ For there is no favoritism with God.^(S)