Introduction

In examining Matthew 4:17, we encounter a textual variation that is pivotal for understanding the message of Jesus. This analysis employs the Documentary Method, giving precedence to the earliest and most reliable manuscripts while also considering internal evidence to ascertain the most authentic reading of this passage.

Manuscript Evidence and Analysis

Textual Variants Overview

1. Textus Receptus (TR), Westcott-Hort (WH), and Nestle-Aland/United Bible Societies (NU) Reading:
   • Greek: μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν (metanoeite; ēngiken gar hē basileia tōn ouranōn)
   • Translation: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
   • Manuscript Support: Codex Sinaiticus (א), B, C, D, L, W, Family 1,33, Coptic

2. Variant Reading:
   • Translation: “the kingdom of heaven is near.”
   • Manuscript Support: Old Latin manuscript itk, Old Syriac (syrc)

External Evidence

The main reading, “μετανοεῖτε; ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν (repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near),” is strongly supported by a wide array of Greek manuscripts, including some of the earliest and most reliable ones like Codex Sinaiticus (א) and Codex Vaticanus (B). This extensive manuscript support, spanning diverse text-types and geographical locations, underscores the reliability of this reading.

The variant, while found in a few significant witnesses like the Old Latin itk and the Old Syriac syrc, lacks the extensive support seen in the Greek manuscript tradition.

Internal Evidence and Contextual Consideration

Tasker and others have proposed that the phrase “μετανοεῖτε” (repent) might have been a later addition, aiming to align Jesus‘ message with that of John the Baptist as seen in Matthew 3:2. This hypothesis, however, does not convincingly explain the widespread presence of the phrase in the Greek manuscript tradition. Furthermore, Jesus echoing or expanding on John’s proclamation is contextually appropriate, as it reflects a continuity in the divine message.

Bruce M. Metzger’s notation of certainty {A} for the main reading indicates a strong conviction about its authenticity based on comprehensive manuscript evidence. The absence of “μετανοεῖτε” and “γάρ” in some versions may be attributed to a tendency among some translators to differentiate Jesus’ message from John’s rather than reflecting the original text.

Conclusion

Given the substantial and diverse manuscript evidence supporting the inclusion of “μετανοεῖτε; ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν (repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near),” it is highly probable that this was the original reading of Matthew 4:17. The variant likely represents a later editorial decision in specific traditions to distinguish Jesus’ message from that of John the Baptist. The original wording, as found in the majority of Greek manuscripts, aptly encapsulates the essence of Jesus’ early ministry, emphasizing a call to repentance in light of the imminent Kingdom of Heaven.