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Matthew 11 · a question people ask

"the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" (11:12). What does that mean?

In the text

Here are Jesus's words as the WEB has them: "From the days of John the Baptizer 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." (11:12-13). These notes quote the words exactly, as he spoke them, and don't say who the violent are, or what the violence is, beyond what the words say.

The verses

“From the days of John the Baptizer 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.”
Matthew 11:12-13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 11

Matthew 11: Come to me

When John sent from prison to ask, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?" (11:3), Jesus didn't answer yes or no: he sent back what they heard and saw (11:4-5). And before the chapter ends he says to all who labor and are heavily burdened, "Come to me" (11:28).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions