And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force

Christ's descent into hell, 1495-1504, Dionysius workshop, Moscow School, from Ferapontov Monastery, State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  For this is he of whom it is written:

'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.'

"Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  And from the days of  John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.  And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

 - Matthew 11:7-15

Yesterday we read that after Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples before their first apostolic mission, He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.  And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"  Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:  The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John:  "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?  But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft garments?  Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.  But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.  For this is he of whom it is written:  'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.'  Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."  Jesus defends John the Baptist, and praises him for his role in salvation history.  He quotes Malachi 3:1, in proclaiming that John is the fulfillment of that prophecy.  He even calls John "more than a prophet."   My study bible says that in terms of the Old Testament Law, John the Baptist is the greatest prophet.  But this is the time of a new covenant, which is Christ's ministry.  My study bible comments that the new is of such incomparable value that those who share in it are greater than John was without it.  It does not mean that John (and all who came before) will not share in that heavenly Kingdom; it just is stating that John's role and life on earth came before something far superior was manifest for the world.

"And from the days of  John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."  My study bible offers several varying interpretations which have been given for this statement by Jesus that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence.  One understanding is that it refers to the Jewish opposition to the gospel.  Others say that it refers to the Kingdom breaking into the world in a "violent" way; that is with great power and force.  There are yet others who say that the Kingdom of heaven refers to Christ Himself, who has been incarnate since the days of John the Baptist, and who will suffer the violence of the Cross.  My study bible quotes commentary by St. John Chrysostom, who states that the violent who take the Kingdom by force are those with such earnest desire for Christ that they let nothing stand between themselves and faith in Him.

"For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.  And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"  This statement reinforces the idea of the change in the world "from the days of John the Baptist" and those breaking into the Kingdom.  This is due to the special meaning of the phrase Elijah who is to come.  In addition to the quotation which Jesus gives from Malachi regarding John (above), Malachi also prophesied that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6).  My study bible comments that although John does not ascribe to himself the role of Elijah (John 1:21), Jesus does.  Jesus is saying that John fulfilled the mission of Elijah (Luke 1:17, 76), and his destiny was similar.  But John, my study bible says, is honored over Elijah because John prepared the way for the advent of Christ Himself.  

So what does it mean that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence?  I personally think it makes sense to me that Jesus is talking about those who are crashing in, taking it by storm, so to speak.  If John the Baptist is Elijah who is to come, then his role as Forerunner of the Kingdom makes inroads for the world in what was already there.  That is, the kingdom of heaven was not simply created or invented at the time of Christ.  It always was.  But what happens with the Incarnation is that this Kingdom becomes available to human beings -- it becomes a part of the world.  It ceases to be secret and unknown, and this is part of revelation of "things hidden since the foundation of the world."  Thereby this heavenly Kingdom is likened here by Christ to a worldly kingdom, which foreign kings and armies enter into by force.  Up until now, this was that place to which only the deeply holy could enter,  those to whom it was given.  But now this Kingdom opens up to the world, even to those who have already passed.  Christ's Incarnation, Passion, death, Resurrection, and subsequent Ascension makes all of this possible.  The icon above is an image of Christ's descent before Resurrection, proclaiming the Kingdom even to those in Hades (Ephesians 4:8-10, 1 Peter 3:18-20).   This has all begun with the days of John the Baptist, who went to all of Israel proclaiming that the kingdom of heaven was at hand (3:1-2).  John prepared multitudes through baptism and preaching repentance.  Jesus continues that expansion through His ministry, and now by sending out the apostles on their first mission.  So how do we break into this Kingdom?  How do we allow it to "break in" to us, our communities, our lives?  There is a way in which we are to hear and receive the good news, the gospel message, and take it in with faith.  It plants itself in us, and that presence of the Kingdom grows.  Let us break in and expand it, grow it through prayer, bring it forcefully into the world simply through living our faith and Christ's commands.  It is a kingdom truly to be desired, its blessings good for all, for the life of the world.