From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.
Parallel translations
- WEB From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
- KJV And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
- NKJV And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
- NASB And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force.
- NLT And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Since John's ministry, the kingdom has advanced amid conflict and is laid hold of forcefully. The verse marks the kingdom's powerful, contested arrival.
Overview
This difficult saying is read in two main ways by faithful interpreters: either the kingdom suffers violent opposition from its enemies, or it advances powerfully and is eagerly seized by earnest people pressing into it. Both senses fit the context of John's era as a turning point. Either way, the coming of the kingdom in Christ is no quiet affair but a decisive, dynamic event.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Luke 16:16The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
- Luke 13:24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
- Eph 6:11–13Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
- Phil 2:12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
- John 6:27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”
- Luke 7:29–30All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.
- Matt 21:23–32When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 11:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.