John the Baptist called upon the people of Israel to... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 3:1.2.

John the Baptist called upon the people of Israel to repent. That means, they should change their attitude towards God, they should acknowledge that they had sinned and from then on lead their life according to God's will. The reason for him preaching this message was that the promised Messiah and His kingdom were about to appear. Jesus Christ would soon be seen in public. The long-awaited, promised Messiah had finally come.

Repenting, i.e. regretting one's own sad state and changing it, must have been a hammer blow for the conscience of the high priest and scribes, who thought themselves to be on the right track. Now they suddenly had to hear: "You need to change in your heart and mind, and externally, too. Not only the heathen need to be converted, but also the Jews, who possess God's law! Indeed, even you superior Pharisees and Sadducees!"

This call for repentance also applies to today, as we deduce from the words of the apostle Paul in Acts 17:30.31: "These times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising him from the dead."

This humbling of oneself before God, this change of attitude is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. That is God's command to us all. Whoever turns to God, believing in Christ, will be saved.

Today's reading: Daniel 6:1-18 · Acts 1:10-14