Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 11:12

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force." — Matthew 11:12 (ASV)

This enigmatic saying has called forth a host of interpretations. The following interpretation does justice both to the context and to the language. “From the days of John the Baptist until now” means “from the time of the activity of John the Baptist.” This expression does not say that John inaugurates the kingdom but only that during his time of ministry it was inaugurated and attacked. The expression assumes that the crucial period of his ministry during which the kingdom was inaugurated lies in the past. That kingdom has now begun, in however preliminary a way, with Jesus’ preaching and powerful works during “the days of John the Baptist,” and it is continuing. Thus there is no reason why the Prophets and the Law should not prophesy “until John” in an inclusive sense (v.13).

The phrase “the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing” suggests that the kingdom has come with holy power and magnificent energy that have been pushing back the frontiers of darkness. This is especially manifest in Jesus’ miracles and ties in with Jesus’ response to the Baptist (v.5). Some kind of compulsion even of people is presupposed elsewhere .

Regarding “and forceful men lay hold of it,” Jesus seems to be suggesting that as the kingdom has been forcefully advancing, violent or rapacious people have been trying to plunder it. In other words, Jesus sets up the picture of a violent struggle being waged even as Jesus speaks. The kingdom inaugurated by Jesus has not swept all opposition away, as John expected (see comment on vv.2–4).

To summarize, simultaneous with the kingdom’s advance have been the attacks of violent people on it. That is the very point John could not grasp. Now Jesus expressly affirms it. The statement is general because it does not refer to just one kind of opposition. It includes Herod’s imprisonment of John, the attacks by Jewish leaders now intensifying (9:34; 12:22–24), and the materialism that craved a political Messiah and the prosperity he would bring but not his righteousness (11:20–24). Already Jesus warned his disciples of persecution and suffering (10:16–42); the opposition was rising and would get worse. Meanwhile, not the aggressive zealots will find rest for their souls, but the weary and burdened children to whom the Father revealed truth (vv.25–30).