Tag: violent

32.l. “And the violent take it by force.”

 

Matthew 11:12  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

 Luke 16:16    “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.

I read Matthew 11:12 over and over but could not make sense of it.  I sent a note to my Pastor asking for references or some commentary that would help me understand. Thankfully he pointed me in the right direction.

One would think “suffered violence, and the violent take it by force” to be a negative act by those carrying it out. We might think brutality, savagery, cruelty, and heartlessness are meant by the use of “violence and violent” in the verse. This makes it hard to read and understand. Here is a case where the greek language sentence structure does not quite align with English. The Greek verb can be presented in three voices, active, passive, and middle. Here it is clear it is either middle or passive which changes how we would define violence and violent. 

Here are some bible scholars commentaries on this verse;

The words describe the eager rush of the crowds of Galilee and Judæa, first to the preaching of the Baptist, and then to that of Jesus. It was, as it were, a city attacked on all sides by those who were eager to take possession of it. The “violent” are men of eager, impetuous zeal, who grasp the kingdom of heaven—i.e., its peace, and pardon, and blessedness. (Ellicot)

In this way is described that eager, irresistible striving and struggling after the approaching Messianic kingdom. (Meyer)

It shows us what fervency and zeal are required of all. Self must be denied; the bent, the frame and temper of the mind must be altered. Those who will have an interest in the great salvation, will have it upon any terms. (Henry)

and the violent take it by force; meaning either publicans, and harlots, and Gentile sinners; who might be thought to be a sort of intruders: or rather the same persons, as being powerfully wrought upon under the ministry of the Gospel; who were under violent apprehensions of wrath and vengeance, of their lost and undone state and condition by nature; were violently in love with Christ, and eagerly desirous of salvation by him, and communion with him; and had their affections set upon the things of another world: these having the Gospel preached to them, which is a declaration of God’s love to sinners, a proclamation of peace and pardon, and a publication of righteousness and life by Christ, they greedily catched at it, and embraced it. (Gill)

Our Lord is describing the energy with which some souls are pressing in, and urging the need of such energy if salvation is to be obtained. (Unknown)

When we look at violence and violently in this scripture their meaning would be more in line with strength, might, power, intensity, without restraint, passion. When the Gospel is revealed to the heart and mind of man and there is a Godly softening of the heart of stone, there is an intentional choice to believe it or reject it. In rejection or denial there can be violent rejection or denial but more than likely there is a mild rejection or denial and they swat away any application of repentance, surrender, holiness, forgiveness, obedience, and reliance on Jesus Christ like they would swat away an annoying fly. But those whose hearts have been enlightened have an urgent need of Christ and with eagerness, zeal, and intensity grab hold of the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

11.y. “They will call upon my name, and I will answer them”

Psalm 17:3    You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.  I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.

Psalms 66:10    For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.

Zechariah 13:9     And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

1 Peter 1:7     so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:4    For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Testing and refining come to every Christian.  It comes in different forms and at various times in our lives. It can come physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and relationally.  We lie in bed at night unable to sleep as the burden laid on our hearts and minds consumes our sleep.  There are times we just can’t seem to handle anymore.  William Gruanll said something like this, “Faith is a plant that grows more in the darkness than in the light”.   When we cry out to God with the burdens weighing heavy on our soul, that is ok and right for us to acknowledge before Him.  We acknowledge that it is beyond our strength and ability to handle it.  Crying out to God is the one place our burdens will be lifted.  Oh, we try and try to handle it on our own over and over again, but we end up at the same place we started – trying to carry a burden we were never intended to carry alone.  Why do we cry out to God?  God will answer!  God has promised, “Come on to Me all who labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest.”  “you will find rest for your souls.” But, there are times our path in life has taken a road/path that leads us away from God.  There are many temptations that our sinful nature will grab on to that lead us in to being apart from God.  In these times it is good for God to lay burdens on our hearts and minds so heavy that our souls find no peace.  Maybe we will turn from our wayward path and turn back to Him.  There are other times, in our lives, we are walking in the light of His Word and, best to our ability, humbly serving, honoring, glorifying, worshiping, following, trusting, and obeying Him and still, a trial/burden lands deep into our hearts and minds.  We lie awake at night and our heart aches and our mind mulls over and over again that which is giving us no peace or rest.  It is in these times we cry out to God and thank Him for His promises.  We acknowledge that we are helpless and lay our burdens at His feet, trusting, by faith, He will lift the burden and carry it for us.  He has promised it and is more than capable to give us peace and rest over it.  “Faith is a plant that grows more in the darkness than in the light”, water it with the Word of God, fertilize it with steadfast faith, and rejoice in the fruit it will produce. Quit trying to carry a burden we were never intended to carry alone.