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

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