But from the days of John the baptist until now, the kingdom of the heavens is taken by violence, and [the] violent seize on it.
John's work is over, people are refusing the King, and the Lord marks the moment as a turning point for Israel. This is one of the hardest sayings in the Gospel. In what sense does the kingdom suffer violence? And who are "the violent" — those pressing in, or those shutting others out?
The Hinge Between Two Eras
The Lord dates His words: "from the days of John the Baptist until now." Until John, Israel had a settled order to live in. After him, everything hung on a kingdom that was preached but not yet set up.
Israel was placed by God on that footing until John's ministry. They had only to keep the law, and to rejoice in the hope given by the prophets, and all was well. This was no longer the case after John. The kingdom was not established; if it had been, the power of God would have settled everything. Order and peace would have reigned... But it was not so; the kingdom was only preached. Only the energy of faith, going through sufferings, could seize it. Satan and the leaders of the nation would do all they could to stop people from entering.
Some have taken the verse as proof that the kingdom was already in place. Commentators answer that it says less than that.
Neither Matthew 11:12 nor Luke 16:16 teaches more than this: the kingdom of heaven was preached, or presented to faith. Neither says that it was in being or established at that time.
Why Entering Took Force
That unsettled state is what made force necessary.
It was no longer a question of swimming with the stream, even in Israel, and with the Messiah present. He will act in all-conquering power another day, when He appears in glory. Now the believer must break with natural ties in the energy of faith. He must rise above obstacles when they are least expected and at their thickest. The kingdom of the heavens is taken by such force as this: only those who can resist in this way seize it.
The violence is not aimed at God. It falls on a man's own ties.
Man had failed completely under the old system. His heart was bitterly opposed to the new kingdom and to all that came with it. So no one could enter except at the risk, or even the cost, of everything. It was only by bursting every tie, doing violence to all the dictates and interests of nature, that anyone could enter in.
Ordinary People, Real Opposition
The people who did press in were ordinary.
Christ preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. If a man believed the message — a fisherman, a tax collector, or anyone else — he had to press through difficulties. He had to force his way against people and prejudices to take kingdom ground. With everybody against him, he had to take his place with Christ by force.
Two Readings of "The Violent"
Commentators differ on who "the violent" are. One reading points to the religious leaders.
The Pharisees rejected the forerunner, John, with violence. This foreshadowed the rejection of the King, the rejection of the preaching of the Kingdom, and the Kingdom itself. In seizing on the Kingdom in this way — rejecting it — the Kingdom of the Heavens suffered violence. It was rejected by force, and now it is put off until He comes again.
Others say the words will not carry that sense.
They could not "seize upon it," though they could block the way of those who were trying to enter. But their opposition drove the ones who wanted it for themselves to use violence.
Not a Verse About Earning Salvation
The verse is often preached as if a sinner must struggle hard enough to win God's favour.
The violent who take the Kingdom by violence are not unsaved sinners who must take salvation by force. Salvation is by grace. It is God's free gift. The sinner is not saved by his violent efforts, but by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Where does the energy to press through come from?
It was grace, without doubt, that supplied the energy and courage to hate father, mother, brother, sister, houses and lands — yes, and a man's own life — for Christ's sake. Still, this was the way grace led a man to act.
Summary
- Hinge — until John, Israel kept the law and rested on the prophets' hope. From his days the kingdom is preached, and every hearer must answer it.
- Announced — the kingdom was preached and presented to faith, not yet set up in power. Had it been set up, God's power would have settled everything.
- Force — the violence is faith breaking with natural ties and prejudices. The believer takes his place with Christ against the stream.
- Disputed — some read "the violent" as the leaders who rejected the kingdom. Others say the leaders could block the door, but never seize the kingdom itself.
- Grace — the effort buys nothing. Salvation is God's free gift, and grace supplies the energy to press through.