DAILY TEXT, Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt. 4:17).

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Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt. 4:17).

During his ministry, Jesus taught that his Father is always ready to forgive. Consider the parable of the prodigal son. That young man decided to leave home and lead a wild life. But after a while, he “came to his senses” and returned. How did his father react? Jesus said that while the son “was still a long way off, his father saw him” and then “ran to meet him, embraced him, and kissed him tenderly.” The son was going to ask his father to let him become one of his workers. But the father was eager to forgive him and welcome him back into the family. He said: “This son of mine . . . was lost and has been found.” (Luke 15:11-32) Before Jesus came to earth, he surely saw many times how Jehovah showed compassion to repentant sinners. That is why he was able to describe our Father’s mercy in such a beautiful and moving way. w24.08 11 pars. 11, 12

What did the apostle Peter learn about repentance, and what did he teach on this subject?

The apostle Peter learned many lessons about repentance and forgiveness from Jesus. Peter made many mistakes, and Jesus was always willing to forgive him. For example, he denied Jesus three times and was then crushed by guilt (Matt. 26:34, 35, 69-75). But after Jesus was resurrected, he appeared to Peter, apparently in private (Luke 24:33, 34; 1 Cor. 15:3-5). Jesus knew that Peter was repentant, so he surely took the opportunity to comfort him and assure him that he had forgiven him (see Mark 16:7 and the study note “and Peter”).

Peter experienced firsthand what it means to repent and receive forgiveness. So he was able to teach others about these matters. Some time after the Festival of Pentecost, he gave a speech to a crowd of Jews in which he told them that they had killed the Messiah, but he lovingly added: “So repent and turn around so that your sins may be blotted out, and so Jehovah himself may bring times of refreshing” (Acts 3:14, 15, 17, 19). With those words, he showed that whoever repents must turn around, that is, change their way of thinking, abandon the bad path, and start walking the good path by doing the things that please God. The apostle said that Jehovah would blot out their sins, make them disappear completely. And, many years later, he explained: “He is patient with you because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). How wonderful it is to know that Jehovah can forgive us completely, even if we commit very serious sins!

How did Paul learn about forgiveness? (1 Timothy 1:12-15).

Few people have had to repent of as many things as Saul of Tarsus. He cruelly and ruthlessly persecuted Christ’s followers. So, surely, most of them thought it impossible that he could change. But Jesus did not have such a narrow view. Both he and his Father noticed Saul’s good qualities. Jesus said: “This man is a chosen instrument of mine” (Acts 9:15). He even used a miracle to help him repent (Acts 7:58–8:3; 9:1-9, 17-20). Later, when Saul became a Christian and was known as the apostle Paul, he often gave thanks for the kindness and mercy with which Jehovah and Jesus had treated him (read 1 Timothy 1:12-15). Full of gratitude, he taught: “In his kindness God is trying to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

On one occasion, Paul learned that a scandal had erupted in the Corinthian congregation because of a problem with sexual immorality. How did he handle the problem? What he did teaches us much about Jehovah’s love and discipline and about the importance of showing mercy.

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