Matthew 11:12

Matthew 11:12

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

a. 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.

b. NIV: From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.

c. Young’s Literal Translation: 'And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force,

d. Amplified Bible: And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

e. Worrell Translation: And from the time of John the Immerser until now, the Kingdom of Heaven is taken by storm, and violent men seize upon it;

1. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence…”

a. and [1161 * de] [Strong:  a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. from [575 * apo] [Strong: a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):--(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.]

c. the days [2250 * hemera] [Strong:  feminine (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit; akin to the base of 1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context):--age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.]

d. of John [2491 * Ioannes [Strong:  of Hebrew origin (3110); Joannes (i.e. Jochanan), the name of four Israelites:--John.]

e. the Baptist [910 * Baptistes] [Strong: from 907; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ's forerunner:--Baptist.]

f. until [2193 * heos] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place):--even (until, unto), (as) far (as), how long, (un-)til(-l), (hither-, un-, up) to, while(-s).]

g. now [737 * arti] [Strong: adverb from a derivative of 142 (compare 740) through the idea of suspension; just now:--this day (hour), hence(-forth), here(-after), hither(-to), (even) now, (this) present.]

h. kingdom [932 * basileia] [Strong: from 935; properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively):--kingdom, + reign.]

i. heaven [3772 * ouranos] [Strong: perhaps from the same as 3735 (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity):--air, heaven(-ly), sky.]

j. suffereth violence [971 * biazo] [Zodhiates: To overpower, impel but also to rush into…the kingdom of God is sought with eagerness, haste.] [Strong: from 971; a forcer, i.e. (figuratively) energetic:--violent.]

1). In light of the whole counsel of God concerning John the Baptist and his calling, it must be that the meaning of the phrase, “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence” means that urgent conviction mixes with obedient faith and rises up to forcebly seize what was presented in John’s faithful message. It was prophesied of John by Gabriel that “many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:16). I believe the Amplified says it best, “as a precious prize a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion.”   

2. “…and the violent take it by force.”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. violent [973 * biastes] [Vines: a forceful or violent man…violence.]

c. take  by force [726 * harpazo] [Zodhiates: To seize upon, spoil, snatch away.] [Vines: to snatch away, carry off by force, “men of violence take it by force”…those who are possessed of eagerness and zeal, instead of yielding to the opposition of religious foes, such as the Scribes and Pharisees, press their way into the kingdom, so as to possess themselves of it.]

d. it [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

1). There is a similar passage in Luke that may shed light on this verse.

a). Luke 16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”

b). The Greek word for “presseth” in Luke 16:16 is the same word used in Matthew 11:12 for “suffereth violence”. The implication in these verses is that there is going to be resistance to our efforts of seeking the kingdom and we have to overcome it.