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He Felt Remorse - Matt 27:3
He Felt Remorse - Matt 27:3
After Jesus was condemned, Judas ‘felt remorse’ (Matt. 27:3). Such remorse led to him killing himself.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he rejoiced at their response to his letter:
8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— 9I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:8-10
There are two different Greek words used here by Paul. Metamolomai is translated in the NASV as ‘regret’ and metanoeo is translated “repent’. Of the word translated ‘regret’, Louw & Nida in their Greek Lexicon wrote:
25.270 μεταμέλομαιa: to feel regret as the result of what one has done—‘to regret, to feel sad about, to feel sorry because of.’ ὅτι εἰ καὶ ἐλύπησα ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἐπιστολῇ, οὐ μεταμέλομαι ‘for even if that letter of mine made you sad, I do not regret (having written it)’ or ‘for even if I made you sad by my letter …’ 2 Cor 7:8.
Concerning the word translated ‘repentance’ in 2 Cor. 7, they wrote:
41.52 μετανοέω; μετάνοια, ας f: to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness—‘to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.’…
Though in English a focal component of repent is the sorrow or contrition that a person experiences because of sin, the emphasis in μετανοέω and μετάνοιαseems to be more specifically the total change, both in thought and behavior, with respect to how one should both think and act. Whether the focus is upon attitude or behavior varies somewhat in different contexts. Compare, for example, Lk 3:8, He 6:1, and Ac 26:20.
I think the difference can be illustrated by Peter and Judas, Peter repented after he betrayed Jesus, and Judas had regret. Peter turned back to the Lord and served Him the rest of his life. Judas became overcome with sorrow and killed himself.
God has called for repentance. John the Baptist demanded it, Peter demanded (Acts 2:38; 8:22), Paul preached it (Acts 17:30), and Jesus himself demanded it (Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3). Such is included in the great commission (Luke 24:44). Repentance is said to lead to life (Acts 11:18).
Have you repented or simply been regretful?
Hugh DeLong
