Matthew 11:12

[bible passage=”Matthew 11:12″]

David Stern adds to this natural understanding by stating that not only was it a physical assault but a spiritual one (demons), as well. But this only supersaturates an already bloated teaching. He writes, ‘The Greek is difficult. As rendered, it means that violent ones (demons and their human vehicles) are trying to keep God from carrying out his plan through Yeshua, e.g., through Herod’s having put Yochanan in prison (v. 2). An alternative understanding, ‘…the Kingdom of Heaven has been advancing forcefully; and forceful people are seizing hold of it, ‘ seems inconsistent with vv. 25-30.’

The Wycliffe Bible Commentary joins in the chorus and states, ‘The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence. The verb may be regarded either as middle – violently forces its way (cf. Lk. 16:16), or as passive – is violently treated. The latter is more consistent with the next clause. From John’s initial announcement of the coming of the Kingdom, the response had been a violent one, whether by vicious opponents (cf. vv. 18, 19; 14:3, 4) or by enthusiastic supporters. The violent take it by force (or, seize it). Compare Lk. 16:16. Among the most prominent of Christ’s adherents were the publicans, harlots, and other open sinners, who flocked to our Lord in great numbers.’

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17 thoughts on “Matthew 11:12

  1. Troy Day says:

    here is the FULL answer to your question Isara Mo John Baptist was filled with the Spirit Pentecostal David Stern adds to this natural understanding by stating that not only was it a physical assault but a spiritual one (demons), as well. But this only supersaturates an already bloated teaching. He writes, ‘The Greek is difficult. As rendered, it means that violent ones (demons and their human vehicles) are trying to keep God from carrying out his plan through Yeshua, e.g., through Herod’s having put Yochanan in prison (v. 2). An alternative understanding, ‘…the Kingdom of Heaven has been advancing forcefully; and forceful people are seizing hold of it, ‘ seems inconsistent with vv. 25-30.’

    The Wycliffe Bible Commentary joins in the chorus and states, ‘The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence. The verb may be regarded either as middle – violently forces its way (cf. Lk. 16:16), or as passive – is violently treated. The latter is more consistent with the next clause. From John’s initial announcement of the coming of the Kingdom, the response had been a violent one, whether by vicious opponents (cf. vv. 18, 19; 14:3, 4) or by enthusiastic supporters. The violent take it by force (or, seize it). Compare Lk. 16:16. Among the most prominent of Christ’s adherents were the publicans, harlots, and other open sinners, who flocked to our Lord in great numbers.’

    what Ray E Horton said here is still under the discussion “They were ‘violently resolved’ in their zeal and forcefully pressing in to the kingdom of heaven.” The Andrew Wommack commentary explains this vers well:
    “The phrase ‘suffereth violence’ in this verse is translated from the Greek word “BIAZO,” and it means ‘to force, i.e. (reflexively) to crowd oneself (into), or (passively) to be seized’ (Strong’s Concordance). The same Greek word was used in Luke 16:16 and was translated ‘presseth’ there.
    “The idea that Jesus was communicating in both of these passages was that before the time of John the Baptist, the only way to approach unto God was through the Old Testament laws and sacrifices. In Jesus’ time, these had become cold and cumbersome rituals in which the heart of the people was far from God (Matthew 15:3-9). When John the Baptist came in the power of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:6), preaching a turning away from sin (Matthew 3:8) and faith in the coming Messiah (Matthew 3:11), multitudes, who previously were not actively seeking God, began flocking to the wilderness to be baptized by John, confessing their sins and putting their faith in the coming Messiah. They were truly ‘pressing in’ to the kingdom of heaven, overcoming any obstacle or opposition posed by laws, traditions, unbelief, or any power Satan threw at them, in order to receive the message that John preached. They were ‘violently resolved'” in their zeal and forcefully pressing in to the kingdom of heaven.
    Today, as in the days of John the Baptist, Satan is opposing the preaching of the Gospel, and only those who are violently resolved to receive God’s best will have it (James 4:7).”

    AND what Haley Knox wrote is starting to be a bit offensive IMHO

    1. Haley Knox says:

      Isara Mo He’s wrong. He’s wrong
      He’s adding to scripture which the bible tells us we are not to do.

      We are the Christians who take the kingdom of heaven by force.
      Not demons.
      Troy is decieved. Please do not listen to anymore of his deception.

  2. Haley Knox says:

    The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
    3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

    4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for [a]all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, [b]pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

    9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

    The Great Tribulation
    15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the [c]elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

    23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

    26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

    The Coming of the Son of Man
    29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His [d]elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

    The Parable of the Fig Tree
    32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that [e]it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

    No One Knows the Day or Hour
    36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of [f]heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what [g]hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what [h]hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

  3. Haley Knox says:

    He’s offended cause the flesh in him is preventing him from seeing truth.
    We don’t live under the Old Testament law any longer.
    We do not tithe ( in the bible they tithe mint and cumin -not money – which is why tithing is not biblical.

  4. Haley Knox says:

    Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
    Matthew 23:23 24
    Never was tithing to be about money

  5. Troy Day says:

    Haley Knox do you have any original knowledge of this scripture? Please share it with us ! If not your offensive language is grounds for dismissal of your personal feelings proclaimed over the Scripture

    1. Isara Mo says:

      Troy Day
      Yes thanks.
      Haley is crawling all over the Bible and is so excited about scripture she can’t even see the finishing line..
      She will learn… Give her time.
      Can a Christian have a demon?
      Haley plse answer that question..

    2. Troy Day says:

      Isara Mo what Ray E Horton has written is good but only partial and very basic explanation of the Greek Obviously Strongs reference does not explain much here The Gr word means to grab to forcefully grasp something from another entity

      The wording is strong as to WHO is doing the grabbing And when the passive voice is applied to the aorist it renders that evil forces are trying to occupy the Kingdom of Haven all and while the church is called to strongly grab it back with FORCE The force is internal in this Greek We force ourselves to grab the Kingdom so evil others dont forcefully grab it from us

    3. Troy Day says:

      Ray E Horton read the Greek – its pretty obvious

      and violent people have been raiding it

      and the violent take it by force.

      Good News Translation
      From the time John preached his message until this very day the Kingdom of heaven has suffered violent attacks, and violent men try to seize it.

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