. . . the
phrases “bearing fruits worthy of μετανοια” and “good fruits
(3:8, 10), which are consistent with “good” (καλος), “bearing”
(ποιεω), “fruit” (καρπος), and “worthy”
(αξιος), keep
appearing in the body of Matthew comprising the commandment of turning (μετανοεω). What is “fruits
worthy of μετανοια”? John the Baptist does not fully explain or
give the contents of the fruits, but the expression “bearing fruits worthy of μετανοια” in 3:8
recalls Matthew’s frequent expressions about bearing good fruit, which denotes
doing what Jesus commands—good fruits/works. Even John uses “good fruit” and “fruits
worthy of μετανοια” in same meaning in 3:8-10. Jesus continues and
expands John the Baptist’s ματανοια preaching while giving
the contents of the fruits worthy of αξιος and hereby
expressing the theme of καρπος in the body of
Matthew.
Overall,
these words are widespread in the body of Matthew. The word “good” (καλος) occurs in
3:10; 5:16; 7:17, 18, 19; 12:33; 13:8, 23, and 48, indicating good fruit or
good works. With that, the term “fruit” (καρπος) occurs in 7:16-20;
12:33; 13:8, 26; 21:19, 34, 41, and 43. Additionally, the word “bearing” (ποιεω) occurs in
5:19, 32, 46, 47; 6:1, 2, 3; 7:12, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 26; 12:12, 33, 50;
13:23, 41; 18:35; 19:16; 21:13, 31, 43; 23:3, 5, 15, 23; 24:46; 25;40, and 45.
Worthy (αξιος) occurs in 10:11, 13, 37, 39; and 22:8. The commandment
of turning (μετανοεω) in the beginning of John and Jesus’ ministry (3:2;
4:17) is echoed in the body of Matthew in these images and language.
In detail,
the first appearance of the term “good” in 5:16 connects the Beatitudes and the
good fruits 3:10 and the fruits worthy of μετανοια in 3:8.
This close connection denotes that the Beatitudes comprise the good, worthy
fruits of μετανοια. The first appearance of the good fruit imagery
in 7:16-21 warns the false prophets and ends with the commandment to do the
will of God in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. The good tree and good
fruit imagery illustrate μετανοια as meaning turning
to do the will of God as Jesus taught in the sermon. The verb ποιεω translated
“bearing” and “doing” frequently occurs in the sermon (5:19, 32, 46, 47; 6:1,
2, 3; 7:12, 17, 18, 19,21, 24, 26) to express a change of heart and conduct.
This repeated phrases indicate that the sermon illuminates the nature of the
good fruit of μετανοια. Verse 12:33 commands hearers to bear good fruit
as an expression of μετανοια (12:41). The contrast between not turning (μετανοια) Israel
and turning (μετανοια) Nineveh in verse 12:41 indicates that this good
tree/fruit and bad fruit/tree image are related to worthy fruit of μετανοια. The verb ποιεω also occurs
in 12:12, 33, 50 to express the theme of ποιεω in relation to
good fruit-bearing imagery, which expresses the theme of μετανοια echoing
the commandment of turning (μετανοεω). References in
13:8, 23, 26, 41 use fruit images and the verb ποιεω to express
the theme of μετανοια as meaning to do what Jesus has commandment, not
lawlessness. Also, the wheat and chaff image in 3:12, which expresses the
fruits worthy of μετανοια in 3:8 occurs in 13:12, 17, 25, 29, 30. This
reoccurrence shows that the parables in Matthew 13 convey the theme and the
fruits worthy of μετανοια. Verse 19:16 uses the verb ποιεω to express
turning one’s heart from love of money to obedience to Jesus, especially by
giving money to the poor (19:21) echoing the fruit of μετανοια.
Fruit-bearing language occurs in 21:13, 19, 31, 34, 41, 43, which include both
negative and positive meanings indicating that the fruit of μετανοια can be
good or bad. The verb ποειω in 21:13 expresses the theme of μετανοια by
indicating what people in the temple turned from. In 21:19 the theme of μετανοια is
visualized through the fruitless fig tree and judgment of the temple. The two parables
in Matthew 21 uses the verb ποιεω and the fruit image
(21:31, 34, 41, 43) to express the theme of μετανοια. The first
son in the parable of the two sons (21:38-32) expresses μετανοια through
changing his mind and actions and obeying the will of the father. The parable
of the wicked tenant in the vineyard (21:33-46) also uses the verb ποιεω and a fruit
image (21:34, 41, 43). This parable depicts the wickedness of religious leaders
of Israel and what they needed to turn away from in order to turn to Jesus—echoing
the commandment of turning (μετανοεω). Matthew 24;46
uses the verb ποειω to signify the fruits worthy of μετανοια for a follower
of Jesus. Finally, 25:40, 45 uses the verb ποιεω to
indicate the fruits worthy of μετανοια for the righteous
to enter eternal life.
Two synonyms
of the verb ποιεω, εργαζομαι (7:23; 21:28;
25:16; 26:10 and εργον (5:16), also carry theme of μετανοια by
indicating the bearing of fruits worthy of μετανοια, echoing
the opening commandment of turning (μετανοεω) in 3:2 and 4:17.
Matthew 7:23 uses εργαζομαι to convey the theme of μετανοια,
commanding this audience to do the will of God instead of living in lawlessness
(7:21). The parable of two sins in Matthew 21:28 also uses εργαζομαι to communicate
the theme of μετανοια related to the command to do the will of the
father. The parable of the talent in
Matthew 25:10 uses εργαζομαι to express the theme of μετανοια as meaning
to observe that the mater commands. In 5:16, εργον repeats the
theme of μετανοια echoing the opening commandment of turning (μετανοεω) in 3:2
and 4:17.
“Worthy” (αξιος) language also
speaks to the theme of μετανοια. The term occurs four times in Matthew 10 (10:11,
13, 37, 38, and 22:8) echoing the worthy fruit of μετανοια. The disciples
will find people who are worthy and stay with them (10:11, 13). The character
of those who are worthy in 10:37, 38 perhaps indicates the worthy fruit of μετανοια when they
love Jesus more than their family, they take their own cross to follow Jesus, and
they lose their life for Jesus. These people show μετανοια through
turning their lives to follow Jesus, leaving everything behind.
The summary
phrase in 3:2 and 4:17 and the widespread use of the metaphorical image of
bearing fruits worthy of μετανοια indicates μετανοια as a
significant theme in the body of Matthew. This fruit-bearing image echoes the
commandment of turning (μετανοεω) (3:2; 4:17) in
the body of Matthew. “Bearing fruits” appears in the body of Matthew as a metaphorical
expression for doing good, righteousness, and the will of the Father. In other
words, Matthew’s emphasis on righteousness, doing the will of God, and doing
good or good action should be understood under the theme of μετανοια. (ChoongJae
Lee, Metánoia (Repentance): A Major Theme of the Gospel of Matthew [Eugene,
Oreg.: Wipf and Stock, 2020], 55-57)
