afterthought

In the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus speaks multiple times about the necessity of repentance or change of mind. Specifically, this idea of a change of mind is related to the concept of an afterthought, and it comes up in the Gospel According to Matthew 11:20–21 (NABRE).

The Greek word for repentance is μετάνοια (metanoia), which literally means “thinking after” or afterthought. The main idea conveys thinking differently following some action. It’s very similar to the Latin idea that forms the root of the word repentance, though there’s a difference in emphasis. The Latin view emphasizes rethinking an action, while the Greek view emphasizes thinking differently after something has been done.

What emphasis does Jesus place on rethinking or repentance in this week’s passage? Why do you think it is that repentance is becoming a theme at this point in the Gospel narrative? What place does repentance play in your spiritual life?

related topics: repentance; sin

you also may like our two-part study of the prophets
Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided examines the prophets in historical context using the First and Second Books of the Kings and other Old Testament passages written before the Babylonian Exile. Volume II: Restoration & Redemption looks at the post-exilic prophets. This 51-lesson Catholic Bible study builds on The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. Click on these links to view a lesson from Volume I and another from Volume II.

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