Matthew 11:12

[Pelaides]

Matthew 11:12 "And from the time of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,and the violent take it by force."

Any time i ask someone what exactly this verse means i get a different answer.

Is Jesus talking about this world ,or another one?

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

On the face that is a peculiar verse, but I think a literal translation helps to clear the obscurity:

From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom of the heavens is crowded into (or seized), and the energetic (or forceful) seize it.

 

[afaithfulone4u]

Pelaids,
The heavens are at war and the fallen angels along with Satan are about to be thrown out and replaced. When we come to Christ we are told to count the costs to see if we can finish the race we have begun. This race is not so much in speed, but the purifying of our souls and those around us by bringing them to Christ to advance the kingdom of heaven.

In the fulness of time God sent us His Son, the Word who became flesh to redeem us. But before He sent us His Word, there came John the Baptists to prepare the way for the Lord's new covenant that would be established after His resurrection, yet really began with John's Baptism for forgiveness of sins. A sort of separating those who are ready to repent and return to the Father by desiring to turn from their old sinful way of a dead life of captivity to sin under the enemies rule, unto Christ being born again which is a growth process/growing pains, separating them from those who remain willfully blinded by rejecting Christ.
Once John came the new covenant was being set and the search for the new rulers to adorn the Bride/City heavenly Jerusalem began. Being tried as gold, silver for her jewels and arrayed in white or holiness by the actions of the saints as her wedding gown.

Those who God choses out of all the race runners will be considered the best wine saved until last for the wedding on the 3rd day(3rd earth age) and they will no longer serve... but they will inherit the Bride and Be Served for they have remained faithful to the Word to renew their minds to the mind of Christ. They will be one of the 144,000 virgins who are considered male for our Head is male are blameless before God. They have been made holy for without holiness, no one will see the Lord.
The violence is our spiritual warfare to fight off the attempts of the devil to get us to turn back or fall away to keep us from reaching our goal of holiness. Jesus is the Seed of God in other words the spermaseed of God that when planted in our hearts along with the drinking in of the Spirit makes us into sons of God adopted by God born from above. Those who finish the race will be in the fullness of Christ unto a perfect man.
Gal 4:1-7
4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
KJV
Eph 3:19-4:1
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
KJV
Eph 4:13-16
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
KJV
Col 2:9-11
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
KJV


1 Cor 9:18-27
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
KJV
Heb 12:1-12
12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
KJV
Heb 12:12-17
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
KJV

 

[joshhuntnm]

Jesus looks back to the days of John the Baptist. Normally such an expression would refer to a man’s whole lifetime, but this cannot be the meaning here, for John was still alive. It refers to the time in the wilderness when he did his effective preaching and established his reputation, the time when he accomplished his life’s work. That period had inaugurated an era in which the kingdom of heaven suffers violence. This does not mean that John inaugurated the kingdom; that was the work of Jesus, and the words point to what was happening in the ministry of Jesus. It is a very difficult expression and has been understood in any one of three general ways: (1) The kingdom is being violently treated (taking the word as a passive), that is, its messengers and preachers and adherents are rejected with violence, which may refer to activities like those of Herod and of Jewish opponents of the gospel. (2) The kingdom suffers violence in the sense that some who look for it (the violent men; people like the Zealots?) are trying to bring it about by violent means; perhaps also they view it as no more than a political kingdom. (3) The kingdom is entered with burning zeal. This may be in the sense, “goes forward with triumphant force” (taking the verb as middle), or the verb may have the meaning “invite urgently, of the ‘genteel constraint imposed on a reluctant guest’ ” (BAGD, 2.d). Cf. NIV, “has been forcefully advancing” (Carson accepts this sense).
Violent men are those who are carrying out the violence the kingdom suffers. The noun’s normal meaning supports the idea that the sense in the earlier part of the sentence is that of evil people harming the kingdom. If this is the way to take it, Jesus is referring to people who do not understand what God is doing in and through the coming of the kingdom. People like those in power in the world of Judaism act violently in seizing what they conceive to be the kingdom and in seeking the best for themselves as they reject what God offers in his Christ. Alternatively we may understand the word to mean putting forth one’s best effort in the kingdom, snatching people away from evil so that they may have membership in the kingdom. This, however, goes against the normal meaning of violent men. We should surely understand this of violent opposition to the kingdom; this means that in the earlier part of the verse “suffers violence” (“has been under violent attack,” AB) is more probable than “advances strongly.” Matthew includes these words of Jesus in a context that speaks of the difficulties of John the Baptist and goes on to refer to people who found themselves unable to agree with Jesus or John. It is much more likely in such a context that Matthew understood the words of the opposition of the evil rather than the progress of the good. We should also bear in mind that in this chapter the Evangelist emphasizes meekness and lowliness rather than aggression; Jesus does not teach that people enter the kingdom by reason of their vigor and aggressiveness.


Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew. The Pillar New Testament Commentary (pp. 281–282). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.

 

[Pelaides]

This is what i am talking about,3 different answers,To what is proving to be a very difficult verse to interpret.

I have read that Jesus was talking about the earth,and that the violence came from the pharisses.

My personal belief is that Jesus is speaking about the war in heaven between satan and the archangel michael,in which satan may have won a battle,but eventually lost the war.

 

[ScottAU]

Matthew 11:12 "And from the time of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,and the violent take it by force."

Any time i ask someone what exactly this verse means i get a different answer.

Is Jesus talking about this world ,or another one?

It means you have to be aggressive in order to be rewarded eternal life.

God rewards those who DILIGENTLY seek Him.

We are to DILIGENTLY add to our faith.

We are to be PRUDENT in examining all things.

We are to STRIVE and ENDURE.

We are to COUNT THE COST, PICK UP OUR CROSS, DENY SELF, BE A DOER, DIG DEEP, TAKE HEED etc.

Christianity is not a passive way of life. We are go-getters. Hence we take the kingdom by force.

Didn't Jacob wrestle with God and refuse to let go?

 

[daq]

Matthew 11:12 "And from the time of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,and the violent take it by force."

Any time i ask someone what exactly this verse means i get a different answer.

Is Jesus talking about this world ,or another one?

Keep it within its context and REMEMBER exactly "who" Yeshua states John to be:

Matthew 11:10-15 KJV
10. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater [GSN#3187 meizon] than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

1) John is the "first messenger" of Malachi 3:1, (which means Yeshua is "the Messenger of the Covenant").
2) If you will receive it; John is Elijah, and therefore his "days" go way beyond the birth of John the man.
3) The word translated "greater" in Matthew 11:11 is "meizon" which also means "ELDER".
4) It is possible that of those born of women there had not risen one "ELDER" than Yochanan the Immerser.
5) From the days of Elijah until the time of Yeshua the kingdom of heaven had indeed suffered violence.
6) The question is thus: Is the Spirit of Elijah the same Spirit which YHWH had put upon Moses?

If so then "Six wings, six wings to the one!" :)

 

[Pelaides]

Keep it within its context and REMEMBER exactly "who" Yeshua states John to be:

Matthew 11:10-15 KJV
10. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater [GSN#3187 meizon] than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

1) John is the "first messenger" of Malachi 3:1, (which means Yeshua is "the Messenger of the Covenant").
2) If you will receive it; John is Elijah, and therefore his "days" go way beyond the birth of John the man.
3) The word translated "greater" in Matthew 11:11 is "meizon" which also means "ELDER".
4) It is possible that of those born of women there had not risen one "ELDER" than Yochanan the Immerser.
5) From the days of Elijah until the time of Yeshua the kingdom of heaven had indeed suffered violence.
6) The question is thus: Is the Spirit of Elijah the same Spirit which YHWH had put upon Moses?

If so then "Six wings, six wings to the one!" :)

You still have not answered my question.Where is the kingdom of heaven,that Jesus is talking about?

 

[daq]

You still have not answered my question.Where is the kingdom of heaven,that Jesus is talking about?

I did not concentrate on that aspect because you already said this:

This is what i am talking about,3 different answers,To what is proving to be a very difficult verse to interpret.

I have read that Jesus was talking about the earth,and that the violence came from the pharisses.

My personal belief is that Jesus is speaking about the war in heaven between satan and the archangel michael,in which satan may have won a battle,but eventually lost the war.

Luke 17:20-23 KJV
20. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
22. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
23. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

The "Kingdom of Heaven" and the "Kingdom of God" are one and the same.
If therefore the Kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU then indeed there is a war in your heavens ~ :)

Luke 10:17-20
17. And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Are you having been written in your forehead with the name of the Lamb and of the Father? :)

 

[SilenceInMotion]

Matthew 11:12 "And from the time of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,and the violent take it by force."

Any time i ask someone what exactly this verse means i get a different answer.

Is Jesus talking about this world ,or another one?

The meaning is actually pretty simple. Jesus and the apostles were persecuted, and Christians for the next few hundred years thereafter would be persecuted. Their is a kingdom of heaven on Earth, and you can expect Protestants to diddle dawdle with that, turning simplicity into rocket science. Every Catholic will tell you the same exact thing I just told you though.

 

[daq]

You still have not answered my question.Where is the kingdom of heaven,that Jesus is talking about?

Likewise, until that time, one could purchase seven souls for three assarion and take them to the priest to be slaughtered.
That is, of course, because of the fleshly, physical, and faulty Pharisaic-Sadduc interpretations of Torah. :)

 

[meshak]

This is what i am talking about,3 different answers,To what is proving to be a very difficult verse to interpret.

I have read that Jesus was talking about the earth,and that the violence came from the pharisses.

My personal belief is that Jesus is speaking about the war in heaven between satan and the archangel michael,in which satan may have won a battle,but eventually lost the war.

Nope, satan lost, that's why he got to cast out to the earth.

It means you have to be aggressive in order to be rewarded eternal life.

God rewards those who DILIGENTLY seek Him.

We are to DILIGENTLY add to our faith.

We are to be PRUDENT in examining all things.

We are to STRIVE and ENDURE.

We are to COUNT THE COST, PICK UP OUR CROSS, DENY SELF, BE A DOER, DIG DEEP, TAKE HEED etc.

Christianity is not a passive way of life. We are go-getters. Hence we take the kingdom by force.

Didn't Jacob wrestle with God and refuse to let go?

This make so much sense, thank you:)

 

[Arnie Manitoba]

Matthew 11:12 "And from the time of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,and the violent take it by force."

Any time i ask someone what exactly this verse means i get a different answer.

Is Jesus talking about this world ,or another one?

Here is my (poor) explanation and understanding

First of all Jesus is talking about a change taking place

ie: .... up till then everything was the prophets and the law 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

Now John the baptist has come , and Jesus is here and everything is changing 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now,

"until now" refers to time from when John started preaching until Jesus began his ministry

It sounds like when John the Baptist arrived on the scene , it signaled the change from the old covenant (law and prophets) to the new covenant (John and Jesus)

This caused turmoil in the Kingdom ... the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. (from the time of John to the time Jesus was speaking)

But that does not answer your question Peladies .... (this world ,or another one?) .....

I dont know for sure ...... I am thinking it is happening in the "spiritual kingdom" ..... because the world had been carrying on pretty much the same as usual and Jesus did specify "kingdom of heaven".

And just to confuse things a bit more , there is a verse somewhere else where Jesus said ...... "the kingdom is within you"

This is a hard one to figure out.

 

[Pelaides]

Here is my (poor) explanation and understanding

First of all Jesus is talking about a change taking place

ie: .... up till then everything was the prophets and the law 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

Now John the baptist has come , and Jesus is here and everything is changing 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now,

"until now" refers to time from when John started preaching until Jesus began his ministry

It sounds like when John the Baptist arrived on the scene , it signaled the change from the old covenant (law and prophets) to the new covenant (John and Jesus)

This caused turmoil in the Kingdom ... the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. (from the time of John to the time Jesus was speaking)

But that does not answer your question Peladies .... (this world ,or another one?) .....

I dont know for sure ...... I am thinking it is happening in the "spiritual kingdom" ..... because the world had been carrying on pretty much the same as usual and Jesus did specify "kingdom of heaven".

And just to confuse things a bit more , there is a verse somewhere else where Jesus said ...... "the kingdom is within you"

This is a hard one to figure out.

If we look at the Lords prayer,Luke11:2-4,Jesus clearly explains the difference between heaven and earth.So how can heaven be found inside of us?

The meaning is actually pretty simple. Jesus and the apostles were persecuted, and Christians for the next few hundred years thereafter would be persecuted. Their is a kingdom of heaven on Earth, and you can expect Protestants to diddle dawdle with that, turning simplicity into rocket science. Every Catholic will tell you the same exact thing I just told you though.

This is a possible explanation,Jesus calls Satan the prince of this world.

 

[Arnie Manitoba]

If we look at the Lords prayer,Luke11:2-4,Jesus clearly explains the difference between heaven and earth.So how can heaven be found inside of us?


This is a possible explanation,Jesus calls Satan the prince of this world.

I never said that

i said that Jesus said the Kingdom is within us

Don't change the subject you yourself started

By the way .... I dont know what Jesus meant when He said ... " the kingdom is within you"

 

[daq]

If we look at the Lords prayer,Luke11:2-4,Jesus clearly explains the difference between heaven and earth.So how can heaven be found inside of us?

A better question might be: "How is it that the Son of man was already IN HEAVEN during his ministry in John 3:13?"

John 3:11-15 KJV
11. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Matthew 3:16-17
16. And having been immersed the Yeshua ascended straightway out of the water; and, behold, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of the Theou descending as a dove, and lighting upon him:
17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

And from this point in his earthly physical ministry the Son of man was IN HEAVEN ~ :)

 

[Pelaides]

A better question might be: "How is it that the Son of man was already IN HEAVEN during his ministry in John 3:13?"

John 3:11-15 KJV
11. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Matthew 3:16-17
16. And having been immersed the Yeshua ascended straightway out of the water; and, behold, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of the Theou descending as a dove, and lighting upon him:
17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

And from this point in his earthly physical ministry the Son of man was IN HEAVEN ~ :)

Another confusing answer,Where is the heaven Jesus says was taken by violence?

I never said that

i said that Jesus said the Kingdom is within us

Don't change the subject you yourself started

By the way .... I dont know what Jesus meant when He said ... " the kingdom is within you"

Dont worry,nobody else seems to know either.

 

[Guestman]

Matthew 11:12 "And from the time of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,and the violent take it by force."

Any time i ask someone what exactly this verse means i get a different answer.

Is Jesus talking about this world ,or another one?

First off, the rendering by the King James Bible is way off at Matthew 11:12, inaccurate. If a person was using a map as guide that was "way off ", then by using it alone would he be able to get where he wanted to go ? No. He would remain lost. However, at Luke 16, the King James Bible does give a small clue, whereby Jesus said: "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."(Luke 16:16)

A modern English Bible reads at Matthew 11:12: "But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press (Greek biazetai, meaning "to use force, to apply force"), and those pressing forward (Greek biastai) are seizing it."(New World Translation)

Hence, from the time John the Baptist began his preparatory work for Jesus in the spring of 29 C.E., "the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press", "seizing it." Once they came to know Jesus and the meaning of the "good news of the kingdom", they locked onto the "kingdom".

Regarding Matthew 11:12, German scholar Heinrich Meyer states: “In this way is described that eager, irresistible striving and struggling after the approaching Messianic kingdom . . . So eager and energetic (no longer calm and expectant) is the interest in regard to the kingdom. The [bi·a·stai´] are, accordingly, believers [not enemy attackers] struggling hard for its possession.”—Meyer’s Critical and Exegetical Hand-Book to the Gospel of Matthew, 1884, p. 225.

 

[Pelaides]

First off, the rendering by the King James Bible is way off at Matthew 11:12, inaccurate. If a person was using a map as guide that was "way off ", then by using it alone would he be able to get where he wanted to go ? No. He would remain lost. However, at Luke 16, the King James Bible does give a small clue, whereby Jesus said: "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."(Luke 16:16)

A modern English Bible reads at Matthew 11:12: "But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press (Greek biazetai, meaning "to use force, to apply force"), and those pressing forward (Greek biastai) are seizing it."(New World Translation)

Hence, from the time John the Baptist began his preparatory work for Jesus in the spring of 29 C.E., "the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press", "seizing it." Once they came to know Jesus and the meaning of the "good news of the kingdom", they locked onto the "kingdom".

Regarding Matthew 11:12, German scholar Heinrich Meyer states: “In this way is described that eager, irresistible striving and struggling after the approaching Messianic kingdom . . . So eager and energetic (no longer calm and expectant) is the interest in regard to the kingdom. The [bi·a·stai´] are, accordingly, believers [not enemy attackers] struggling hard for its possession.”—Meyer’s Critical and Exegetical Hand-Book to the Gospel of Matthew, 1884, p. 225.

Good answer,very interesting,Thank you.

 

[Guestman]

Good answer,very interesting,Thank you.

If a person were to adhere to the King James Bible's rendering of Matthew 11:12, that says: "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force", it gives the impression that a Christian uses violence as a means to acquire the "kingdom", perhaps as some so-called Christian rulers have done, using violent means to enslave the people to follow their form of "Christianity" under penalty of death.

Thus, unless the correct rendering is brought forth, individuals will take off on the wrong direction because of a mistranslated Scripture, thinking that perhaps violence is sanctioned by Jesus. Nothing could be farther from the truth, for what a contrast with Jesus words that a genuine Christian is to be "mild-tempered and lowly in heart."(Matt 11:29)

Hence, Jesus was stressing of the need to have real vigor and zest toward reaching for the "kingdom", to be "pressing" towards the "kingdom", "seizing it". These would grab hold of the "kingdom" and not let go. The "kingdom" would now take 1st place in their life and never relent. That is why Jesus said that "the Law and the Prophets were until John. From then on the kingdom of God is being declared as good news, and every sort of person is pressing forward toward it."(Luke 16:16, New World Translation)

The illustrations at Matthew 13 point toward this: "The kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and for the joy he has he goes forth and sells what things he has and buys that field."(Matt 13:44) Or at verse 45 and 46 that says: "Again the kingdom of the heavens is like a traveling merchant seeking fine pearls. Upon finding one pearl of high value, away he went and promptly sold all the things he had and bought it."

And what else was Jesus pointing out when saying that "those pressing forward are seizing it" ? That membership in the Kingdom of God would not be easy to gain. Rather, our Creator, Jehovah God, placed barriers to shut out those not worthy, for Jesus said that "no man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him; and (then) I will resurrect him on the last day."(John 6:44)

Those ' drawn' from this wicked "system of things" have to measure up to his holy requirements, such as leaving such wicked traits as "fornication...idolaters...adulterters...men kept for unnatural purposes...men who lie with men...thieves...greedy persons...drunkards...revilers...extortioners."(1 Cor 6:9, 10)

These must traverse a "narrow gate" and "cramped road" (Matt 7:14) who "keep on asking....seeking....knocking" whereby the "kingdom" will become clear (Matt 7:7), that it is not in just one's heart (through a misapplication of Luke 17:21 according to KJV), but is a heavenly government now in operation since 1914, that it is made up of 144,000 individuals "bought from among mankind".(Rev 14:4)

Those "pressing forward", "seizing" the "kingdom" have suffered persecution and death even at the hands of so-called Christians, for Jesus told his eleven faithful apostles: "Men will expel you from the synagogue. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God."(John 16:2) Jesus genuine disciples would be put to death at the hands of counterfeit Christians, the "weeds" that Jesus spoke at Matthew 13:25.