Repentance is more than. “I’m sorry,” but the decision to change your mind and turn from the wrong direction.
Dr. Hart Ramsey gives the best description as he uses the navigational meaning of the term repent to show how nomadic navigators expressed how to get back on course once it was revealed they had gone astray.
There are two Scriptures that references “repentance” in translation but the actual Greek is a bit different.
Matt 27:3-5
“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”
According to The Blue Letter Bible (BLB) Lexicon, the word used in vs. 3 is “metamelomai” Strong’s 3338, meaning “to care afterwards; regret.”
Its root words metaméllomai 3326 /metá, “change after being with,” and 3199 /mélō, “care, be concerned with”– properly means “to experience a change of concern after a change of emotion and usually implying to regret, i.e. falling into emotional remorse afterwards.”
Some translations record as “repent to self.”
However, in Matthew 3:1-3
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
According to BLB, the word repent in vs. 2 is translated “metanoeo” meaning “to change one’s mind.”
Its root words are “meta” meaning “to change after being with;” and “noeo” meaning “think differently after.”
This is significant because Judas’ repentance did not occur after Godly sorrow, but after an emotional remorse.
It stemmed from his on discomfort rather than the realization of his wickedness in his action.
His response and reaction to return the 30 pieces of silver was his attempt to atone for himself rather than surrender to Christ, even while He was on the cross.
“So, what’s the difference between Judas betrayal and Peters?”
I am so glad you asked! 😉
It is true, both disciples betrayed Jesus and repented …
BUT
Only one experienced Godly sorrow…
Only one accepted the truth about their wickedness …
Only one changed their mind about themselves and their deed …
Not solely because of regret or remorse …
But because what they learned about themselves, was the very reason Jesus went to the cross.
Judas felt bad because of what he saw and he, like Peter’s original mind, wanted to stop the plan of God!
He wanted to undo what was destined!
He tried to payback what he was unworthy to pay!
And THAT is why Judas’ repentance was rejected.
Peter realized he was wicked and changed his mind and ways …
He accepted Jesus’ crucifixion because he trusted his the Word.
Peter became the rock and Judas dissolved as he was; a curse, deserving of the tree in which he hung.
Click the image below to hear my teaching on Stage 3 of the process of suffering.
Resources:
Exerps from research paper entitled, “The Inevitably and Mystery of Suffering” Liberty University by Marquia Green
https://biblehub.com/str/greek/3338.htm
https://biblehub.com/str/greek/3340.htm
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Blessings 💚
Marquia
