Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand
Speaker: Pastor Richard Kao
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Na’aseh V’nishma. We will do, and we will hear.
A Hebrew phrase meaning: We will obey whether we understand or not. We will do first, and we will listen or understand later. We will surrender first, and comprehend later.
Na’aseh V’nishma is the way we were created to live. We were created to live in trusting response to a covenant-keeping God who is fully trustworthy, who is good, who is perfect.
This was how Adam and Eve lived in the Garden before the Fall - God spoke, they acted, no questions asked. Satan tempting Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge was the start of his intention to destroy Na’aseh V’nishma, to keep humankind from obeying God with no reservation or doubt.
When God instituted the old covenant with the Jewish people on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-24), He said: “If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…” (19:5-6).
The people’s response to this covenant was Na’aseh V’nishma: “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (19:8), “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do” (24:3b), “We will do (heb: na-‘ă-śeh) and we will listen (hear) (heb: wə-niš-mā‘)” (24:7b).
In Jesus’ first sermon, He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). For His Jewish listeners, this was meant to bring refreshing and light because it was a bridge connecting back to the Sinai covenant, which they understood. It struck a core covenantal concept to being a follower of God because it echoed back to Na’aseh V’nishma.
Jesus restates Na’aseh V’nishma in new covenant terms: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6) - the very order and formulation of “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Repenting, turning to walk in His way comes first. Obedience to Him brings the victory. Obedience is the door to life and joy. This is a crucial reminder in a culture where we often pursue His life and blessings before walking in obedience to His way.
The way is to trust Him.
We obey and act before understanding, because we trust God unconditionally. Constantly questioning Him will block His blessings. Jesus Himself started and ended His earthly life with Na’aseh V’nishma to the Father: Though He was sinless, in humility He underwent the baptism of repentance; on the cross, His final prayer was, “Into Your hands I commit My spirit.”
In the old testament, priests offer sacrifices. In the new testament, as priests we become the sacrifice. This is how we live as God’s covenant people - a holy nation and a royal priesthood (Exodus 19:6, 1 Peter 2:9): by becoming living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).
Father, deepen our trust in You. You are fully trustworthy. Na’aseh V’nishma - When You speak, help us to obey even if we don’t understand.