THE FLOW

It's amazing how progressive Jesus' commands are. Just look at the first seven:

"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"
"Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men!"
"Rejoice and be glad, because your reward in Heaven is great."
"Let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven."
"Teach and observe the Law and the Prophets."
"Be reconciled to your brother before offering gifts to God."
"Settle matters quickly and humbly with your opponent at law."

 Jesus gives us something to turn from (the world) and something to turn to (the Kingdom of God) and how to do that (follow Him) and the results we are to look for (that we would become fishers of men) and the impact it will have on those around us (they will insult and persecute and say every kind of evil against you because of Me) and how we are to respond (rejoice and be glad because your reward in Heaven is great) showing that we are truly separating ourselves from this world, fixing our hope on Heaven, as is evident not only to ourselves, but to those around us who we are both calling and leaving. Then comes the manner in which we are to live for Christ - in deep humility, anonymously doing good works so God gets the glory, seeking His Spirit's work in our lives so that we love (which fulfills the law) and humbly upholding the law and the prophets to a lawless culture, having as our priority harmony between us and other believers - even above mission or good works, and taking the initiative to humble ourselves before those who sue us, settling matters quickly - receiving hardship as discipline from God Himself.

First of all, Jesus calls His disciple to turn from the world, "repent." At the very same time, Jesus doesn't just tell people to turn from sin, but gives an amazing reason - because something infinitely better is right here among us! The Kingdom of Heaven! It's like He's appealing to those who are sick and tired of being their own king or who have tried so many earthly kings (pastors, leaders, authors, self, sex, drugs, drink, apathy, pure reason, "science", etc.) who keep failing them over and over and surrender, finally, to the King of kings - their Creator Himself. For those who are tired of the Kingdoms of this world, Jesus' command to turn away from them, make a drastic and complete change of direction and seek Heaven's King, is such a refreshing invitation. It should be noted that this "repentance" is not simply a one time thing. Jesus taught His disciples that if a person were to come to them seven times in a day and say, "I repent," they were to forgive them. So in the same way, God, the King of Heaven, invites us to repent as often as we find ourselves off course, and turn back to Him.