Matt. 11:7-19; Rom. 9:30-33, Taking the Kingdom by Force

Jesus called the people to accept John as performing the ministry of Elijah.  To accept John in this way would enable the people to accept Jesus as their Messiah.  Jesus utters some amazing words: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (cf. Lk. 16:16 for a parallel passage).  What does He mean by, taking the kingdom by force?  This strong approach to entering the kingdom has been going on throughout the time since John began to preach and continues now in the time of Jesus’ ministry.

The passage is not saying that only those who are physically violent enter heaven's kingdom.  Violence was being done against the kingdom of God, as was illustrated by John being in prison and Christ who was experiencing resistance and who would be crucified.  Rather we believe those who take the kingdom by force are those who are violent in terms of pressing on in their faith, not giving up as Jesus' disciples. 

This is not an unusual way of understanding the struggle it is for people to come to Christ and receive Him.  Consider, for example, Luke 13:24 where we are told we must strive to enter the narrow gate. Phil. 3:12 uses similar language (press on) as does Heb. 4:11 (be diligent to enter that rest), and 2 Pt. 1:10 (be diligent to make your call and election sure). John, in this passage, illustrates one who, in spite of confusion caused by the unfolding events, yet persevered in faith to his death. 

Furthermore, it is never easy to deny self, turn from pride, and follow Christ.   We must be ruthless in this.  The hardest thing for people to do is to give up trying to please God with their own works and to accept Christ and eternal life as God’s gift of grace.  For the Jewish crowd this is particularly true.  Remember Rom. 9:30-33.  They did not attain righteousness because they would not receive it by faith.  They sought to attain it by keeping the law.  In the end they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 

The Jewish crowd had many deterrents to following Christ.  The religious leaders, the shepherds of Israel, would make their lives miserable if they followed Christ.  In that sense the kingdom of heaven was being attacked violently.  It would take the greatest of striving and diligence to enter God’s grace at the narrow gate of faith.

Following Christ would mean you were in the minority.  Jesus says this in 11:16-19.  The majority weren’t interested in bowing the knee to God.  They could always find something wrong with the preacher.  If the preacher lived a stringent lifestyle, they criticized him because he wouldn’t party with them.  If the Preacher shared in their feasts they accused Him of being a glutton and drunkard and of hanging out with “sinners.”  Those who understood that both John and Jesus preached the same Christ-exalting message and who were willing to pay the price of discipleship, these would be seen as truly wise.

Think about it.  A faith that is like a reed in the wind or like those wearing "soft clothing" in important places will not stand the test of discipleship!