⁸ Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart];

¹³ Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, ^[a]readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).^(A)

²⁰ Then He began to censure and reproach the cities in which most of His mighty works had been performed, because they did not repent [and their hearts were not changed].

¹⁷ And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, Those who are strong and well have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick; I came not to call the righteous ones to repentance, but sinners (the ^[a]erring ones and ^[b]all those not free from sin).

¹² So they went out and preached that men should repent [^[a]that they should change their minds for the better and heartily amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins].

³ And he went into all the country round about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance (^[a]of hearty amending of their ways, with abhorrence of past wrongdoing) unto the forgiveness of sin.

²⁵ He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],

⁴ Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent (^[a]to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)?