Repentance holds a central place in the teachings of the Bible, emphasizing a turning away from sin and a wholehearted return to God. The selected verses cover a range of contexts, from individual repentance to God’s call for national repentance.
Each verse is accompanied by a commentary to delve into its significance in the broader theme of repentance.
Bible verses about repentance
Matthew 4:17 (NKJV):
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'”
Matthew 4:17 marks the inception of Jesus’ public ministry with a resounding call to repentance. It underscores the foundational requirement for entering God’s kingdom—acknowledging sin and turning towards divine grace.
Acts 3:19 (NKJV):
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
Acts 3:19 connects repentance with conversion and the forgiveness of sins. It introduces the concept of spiritual refreshment as a consequence of genuine repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV):
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 distinguishes between godly sorrow that produces life-affirming repentance and worldly sorrow that leads to spiritual death. It underscores the transformative power of genuine remorse.
Luke 15:7 (NKJV):
“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
Luke 15:7 highlights the joy in heaven when a sinner repents. It portrays repentance as a cause for celebration in the divine realm.
Mark 1:15 (NKJV):
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:15 echoes the urgency of repentance in light of the imminent arrival of God’s kingdom. It emphasizes the inseparable connection between repentance and embracing the gospel message.
Acts 17:30 (NKJV):
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.”
Acts 17:30 conveys God’s call for universal repentance, signaling a shift from ignorance to a conscious acknowledgment of sin. It emphasizes the universality of the repentance mandate.
Ezekiel 18:30 (NKJV):
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.”
Ezekiel 18:30 underscores the individual responsibility for repentance, linking it to the avoidance of ruin caused by iniquity. It portrays repentance as a pathway to divine mercy and restoration.
Matthew 3:8 (NKJV):
“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.”
Matthew 3:8 introduces the concept of bearing fruits in alignment with repentance. It emphasizes the tangible transformation that should accompany genuine repentance.
Joel 2:12 (NKJV):
““Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.””
Joel 2:12 presents a call for wholehearted repentance accompanied by external expressions of fasting, weeping, and mourning. It conveys the depth of sincerity required in turning back to God.
Revelation 3:19 (NKJV):
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
Revelation 3:19 reveals God’s loving discipline as a motivation for repentance. It encourages a zealous commitment to turning away from sin in response to divine correction.
Luke 24:47 (NKJV):
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Luke 24:47 highlights the global proclamation of repentance and the forgiveness of sins as a central theme in Christian preaching. It underscores the universal relevance of repentance.
Acts 2:38 (NKJV):
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”
Acts 2:38 establishes a link between repentance, baptism, the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. It marks a pivotal moment in the early Christian proclamation.
Matthew 11:20 (NKJV):
“Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done because they did not repent.”
Matthew 11:20 illustrates Jesus’ response to cities that witnessed His miracles yet failed to repent. It serves as a cautionary example, emphasizing the significance of responding to divine revelation.
Jeremiah 15:19 (NKJV):
“Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth.'”
Jeremiah 15:19 portrays repentance as a condition for restoration and standing in the presence of God. It introduces the imagery of discerning the precious from the vile, signifying a purified life.
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV):
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 unveils God’s longsuffering nature, desiring the repentance of all. It highlights divine patience as an expression of God’s merciful intent for humanity.
Matthew 9:13 (NKJV):
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.'”
Matthew 9:13 quotes Hosea 6:6, emphasizing the priority of mercy over ritualistic sacrifice. It encapsulates Jesus’ mission to call sinners to repentance, embodying divine compassion.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV):
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 lays out a formula for national repentance, involving humility, prayer, seeking God’s face, and turning from wicked ways. It reveals a divine promise of forgiveness and healing contingent on genuine repentance.
Bible verses about repentance
Matthew 21:32 (NKJV):
“For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.”
Matthew 21:32 contrasts the response of tax collectors and harlots to John the Baptist’s message with the religious leaders’ lack of repentance. It underscores the necessity of a genuine change of heart in responding to God’s call.
Luke 5:32 (NKJV):
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Luke 5:32 echoes the theme found in Matthew 9:13, emphasizing Jesus’ mission to call sinners to repentance. It reinforces the inclusive nature of God’s invitation to turn away from sin.
Acts 26:20 (NKJV):
“but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”
Acts 26:20 encapsulates the comprehensive message of repentance, including turning to God and manifesting a transformed life through works befitting repentance. It reflects the holistic nature of genuine repentance.
Ezekiel 33:11 (NKJV):
“Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’”
Ezekiel 33:11 unveils God’s compassionate desire for the wicked to turn from their evil ways and live. It emphasizes the life-giving potential inherent in genuine repentance.
Luke 15:10 (NKJV):
“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10 reiterates the joy in heaven over the repentance of a sinner. It echoes the sentiment expressed in Luke 15:7, underlining the significance of individual repentance in the divine narrative.
2 Timothy 2:25 (NKJV):
“in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.”
2 Timothy 2:25 highlights the connection between humility, correction, and the granting of repentance by God. It emphasizes the transformative role of repentance in gaining a deeper understanding of the truth.
Revelation 2:5 (NKJV):
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
Revelation 2:5 addresses the Ephesian church, urging them to remember their initial devotion, repent, and return to their first works. It introduces the concept of the removal of the lampstand as a consequence of unrepentant decline.
Jeremiah 31:18 (NKJV):
“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, like an untrained bull; restore me, and I will return, for You are the Lord my God.'”
Jeremiah 31:18 captures the penitent cry of Ephraim, expressing a willingness to return to the Lord after experiencing divine chastisement. It portrays repentance as a response to God’s corrective discipline.
Acts 11:18 (NKJV):
“When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.'”
Acts 11:18 marks a pivotal moment when the Gentiles’ repentance is acknowledged as a divine gift leading to life. It reflects the inclusive nature of God’s offer of repentance.
2 Corinthians 12:21 (NKJV):
“lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.”
2 Corinthians 12:21 reveals Paul’s concern for those who persisted in sin without repentance. It underscores the gravity of unrepentant behavior and its impact on both individuals and the community.
Revelation 3:3 (NKJV):
“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.”
Revelation 3:3 admonishes the church in Sardis to remember, hold fast, and repent. It introduces the urgency of watching and the potential consequences of unrepentance.
Matthew 12:41 (NKJV):
“The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.”
Matthew 12:41 contrasts the repentance of the men of Nineveh in response to Jonah’s preaching with the lack of repentance in Jesus’ generation. It emphasizes accountability based on the response to divine revelation.
Revelation 9:20-21 (NKJV):
“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
Revelation 9:20-21 provides a sobering depiction of a segment of humanity refusing to repent despite witnessing divine judgments. It illustrates the persistence of unrepentant idolatry and sinful practices.
In conclusion, these 30 Bible verses about repentance, accompanied by detailed commentaries, provide a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted theme of turning away from sin and returning to God. From the teachings of Jesus to the Old Testament prophets, each verse contributes to the rich tapestry of biblical wisdom on the transformative power of repentance.
Read: Powerful Bible verses about the Holy Spirit (With Biblical Commentary)