Post by Lee on Jul 11, 2014 2:16:27 GMT
Mat 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. "
“In what did the kingdom of heaven suffer violence in the days of Jesus, and the violent take it by force?” See Matt. 11:12.—(T.E.)\
Answer.—The sense is shown by the parallel passage in Luke 16:16: “Since that time (John’s time), the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” The kingdom was not preached before the days of John. The law and the prophets were in full force before then: Israelites were commanded to be in subjection to the commandments, but were not invited to become heirs of the kingdom. When, however, the fulness of time came, Jesus made his appearance in Galilee, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:14), that is, the kingdom of God had come nigh to them in him for their inheritance, as shown by the words he commanded the disciples to use towards hostile places: “Even the very dust of your city which cleaveth on us we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding, be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”—(Luke 10:11.) The immediate effect of this preaching of the kingdom of God was, that “great multitudes followed after him,” for the sake of the temporal advantage it offered.—(Jno. 6:26). Every man pressed into the kingdom. They believed Jesus to be the Messiah, and wanted to take him by force and make him King.”—(John 6:15.) Jesus withdrew himself from this forcible working of the matter, knowing the time had not yet come to employ force in the establishment of the kingdom, but that the Son of Man had to be put to death. He, moreover, told them that “not every one that said Lord, Lord, would enter the kingdom, but he that did the will of the Father.” The violent pressed around him with carnal objects. He discouraged their zeal. We read that “Great multitudes went with him, and he turned and said unto them, If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple . . . . Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost? . . . So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25–33.) Thus he repressed the eager and violent crowds who thought to take the kingdom of God by their urgent cooperation as natural men.
1874 Christadelphian p 283
“In what did the kingdom of heaven suffer violence in the days of Jesus, and the violent take it by force?” See Matt. 11:12.—(T.E.)\
Answer.—The sense is shown by the parallel passage in Luke 16:16: “Since that time (John’s time), the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” The kingdom was not preached before the days of John. The law and the prophets were in full force before then: Israelites were commanded to be in subjection to the commandments, but were not invited to become heirs of the kingdom. When, however, the fulness of time came, Jesus made his appearance in Galilee, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:14), that is, the kingdom of God had come nigh to them in him for their inheritance, as shown by the words he commanded the disciples to use towards hostile places: “Even the very dust of your city which cleaveth on us we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding, be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”—(Luke 10:11.) The immediate effect of this preaching of the kingdom of God was, that “great multitudes followed after him,” for the sake of the temporal advantage it offered.—(Jno. 6:26). Every man pressed into the kingdom. They believed Jesus to be the Messiah, and wanted to take him by force and make him King.”—(John 6:15.) Jesus withdrew himself from this forcible working of the matter, knowing the time had not yet come to employ force in the establishment of the kingdom, but that the Son of Man had to be put to death. He, moreover, told them that “not every one that said Lord, Lord, would enter the kingdom, but he that did the will of the Father.” The violent pressed around him with carnal objects. He discouraged their zeal. We read that “Great multitudes went with him, and he turned and said unto them, If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple . . . . Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost? . . . So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25–33.) Thus he repressed the eager and violent crowds who thought to take the kingdom of God by their urgent cooperation as natural men.
1874 Christadelphian p 283