First Q: In Matthew 11:12, Jesus says, And from the days of John the Baptist until now -- hold it right there! John the Baptist was still alive at the point at which Jesus supposedly makes this statement! Isnt this somewhat absurd?
A: No; the days of John the Baptist simply means the period of the ministry of John the Baptist. At the time Jesus said this, John the Baptist was in prison.
Second Q: Well, what about the second part of Matthew 11:12? Jesus says The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Readers of this verse win a free trip to Wadindaworld.
A: This part of the verse is not an absurdity, but it is something of a mystery. Some light is shed on its meaning by setting this verse alongside the parallel in Luke 16:16b, which says, since that time [i.e., the active ministry of John the Baptist] the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. The idea, when one considers both passages, is that during the ministry of John the Baptist and during the ministry of Jesus, the doors of the church were opened to the public, so to speak, and people were storming the gates, so to speak, without appreciating what they were getting into.
I think that explanation works well. An alternate interpretation exists. It has been suggested by some commentators that Matthew 11:12 is not part of the speech of Christ, but is a brief parenthetical comment by the author. In that case, the violent represent the political and military rulers of Judea -- the Romans, the Herodian dynasty, and the Sanhedrin -- who were responsible for the violent deaths of quite a few prominent citizens of the kingdom of heaven. In this case the KJVs take it by force refers to an attack, rather than an entrance.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: No; the days of John the Baptist simply means the period of the ministry of John the Baptist. At the time Jesus said this, John the Baptist was in prison.
Second Q: Well, what about the second part of Matthew 11:12? Jesus says The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Readers of this verse win a free trip to Wadindaworld.
A: This part of the verse is not an absurdity, but it is something of a mystery. Some light is shed on its meaning by setting this verse alongside the parallel in Luke 16:16b, which says, since that time [i.e., the active ministry of John the Baptist] the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. The idea, when one considers both passages, is that during the ministry of John the Baptist and during the ministry of Jesus, the doors of the church were opened to the public, so to speak, and people were storming the gates, so to speak, without appreciating what they were getting into.
I think that explanation works well. An alternate interpretation exists. It has been suggested by some commentators that Matthew 11:12 is not part of the speech of Christ, but is a brief parenthetical comment by the author. In that case, the violent represent the political and military rulers of Judea -- the Romans, the Herodian dynasty, and the Sanhedrin -- who were responsible for the violent deaths of quite a few prominent citizens of the kingdom of heaven. In this case the KJVs take it by force refers to an attack, rather than an entrance.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
