There are many calls for repentance in the nation in recognition of the ways in which we have rejected the word of God and strayed from the paths of righteousness. But what does repentance mean? Are we calling for people to apologise to God or to feel sorry for things that have been done? What is the biblical meaning of repentance?

Metanoia

The word as originally used in the New Testament is μετανοιω (metanoia). A good example in the teaching of Jesus is in Luke 17:3 where Jesus says “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” Jesus then elaborates this by saying that it doesn’t matter how many times your brother sins against you in a single day and says “I repent”, you must forgive him.

Change of Mind

In order to understand this teaching, it is necessary to look at the original Greek – καὶ ἐὰν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σὲ καὶ ἑπτάκις ἐπιστρέψῃ πρὸς σὲ λέγων· μετανοῶ, ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ. Literally this reads: “And if seven times a day he sins against you and seven times returns to you saying I repent, you must forgive him.” The word μετανοῶ (metanoia) in this context means – to undergo a change in frame of mind and feeling. It is not an apology: it is a declaration of a basic change of mind and sentiment.

Change of Practice

The word is used in a similar context by John the Baptist when preaching in the desert of Judaea. He declared “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” (Matt 3:2). Here, the word ‘metanoia’ is used specifically meaning, “to make a change of principle and practice, to reform.” There is no suggestion here of apologising for the past or calling upon people to say that they were sorry for their past actions.

This is a demand for action: it is calling for a change in personal and corporate values leading to reformation.

Change of Heart

The same word, ‘metanoia’ is used by John the Baptist in his preaching. He is looking for a right outcome through a change of heart in the people. His call in Matthew 3:8 “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” is specifically a call for 'a change of mode of thought and feeling – repentance'. It is more in line with the teaching of Jesus regarding forgiving those who sin against us but change their attitude and thoughts.

Paul uses ‘metanoia’ in a similar way in Acts 20:21 where he says “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus”. The repentance he was looking for was an inward change of heart similar to his exhortation in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” That is the kind of change Paul wanted to see. He believed that to be true repentance.

Reformation

There are two other places where ‘metanoia’ is used in the New Testament that give a different understanding of the word but which add to our grasp of what is meant by ‘repentance’ in the Bible. The first is found in the teaching of Jesus in Luke 15:7 where he tells a parable of the lost sheep and the good Shepherd who goes out into the countryside searching until he finds his lost sheep. He then carries the sheep home on his shoulders and calls his friends and neighbours to rejoice that the lost sheep is now safely restored to its rightful place in the flock.

Jesus says that in a similar way there will be rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents – who experiences a practical reformation – whose actions show a change of life, rejecting the values of the world and coming into the Kingdom. This teaching is one of Jesus’ ‘parables of the Kingdom’ where the emphasis is upon life-changing experiences that are practically demonstrated in the lifestyle of the believer.

Reversing the Past

Yet another use of the word ‘metanoia’ in quite a different setting is helpful to study. It is found in Hebrews 12:17. Here we read μετανοίας γὰρ τόπον οὐχ εὗρεν – “for of repentance he found no place”. This is referring to Esau having sold his inheritance-rights and then changing his mind. Esau wanted to reverse the past – metanoia – to carry out a basic change, but he was unable to do so.

Summary

This brief look at the way ‘metanoia’ is used in the New Testament shows a wide variety of uses.

All of them, however, involve ‘change’ in some way, which gives a very different meaning to that of our modern use of the word ‘repentance’. We usually think of repentance as meaning that we feel sorry for what we have done, which involves us in some form of apology.

But the New Testament use of the word is associated with ‘action’ – a ‘change of heart and mind’ leading to actions of ‘transformation’.

That is true repentance in the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles.

First published by Issachar Ministries Trust, Office 5, Shannon Court, Sandy, Beds SG19 1AG.