Matthew 11 contd.
V.12. 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.
Matthew the apostle presented in his gospel the kingdom of
God. In his gospel, Christ is portrayed as the King. The verse
being expounded so to speak is quite challenging and difficult
to interpret however, we can infer John the Baptist's role in
pointing to the King, and who only desired in glorifying the Lord
Jesus Christ and didn't mind losing his influence as his duty
and call was that Christ's name and approval would increase
and his decrease. He fulfilled his ministry in pointing to the Son
of God as Israel's Messiah and henceforth expected the nation
of Israel to honour and accept their King. He was a lamp that
shines emitting light which was not his own but instead was a
reflection of Christ's true light. As long as our Lord Jesus was in
the world He was the Light of the world thereby dispelling every
form of darkness. Christ is the source of light and He is a Light
to the Gentiles. Matthew 4:15-16 states
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way
of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to
them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is
sprung up. And verse 17 states that our Lord began to preach
saying "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
It is this kingdom which suffered violence and the violent would
take it by force. It was from the days of John the Baptist who
first came in the spirit and power of Elijah preaching a baptism
of repentance. He presented unto the nation their Messiah-King
who would not bring or establish an earthly kingdom but a
heavenly one. It was John's duty to present Christ to the nation
of Israel and during his time of preaching there was a great
rush or better worded an influx of people from all walks of life.
They were pressing into the kingdom so violently and would
only take it by force.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to
come.
The prophets of the old testament prophesied about the coming
of the Messiah. And the law which was mediated through
Moses prophesied about Him in types and shadows. John
5:31-41 states that:
31“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.
32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that
his testimony about me is true.
33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.
34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you
may be saved.
35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose
for a time to enjoy his light.
36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works
that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am
doing—testify that the Father has sent me.
37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning
me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the
one he sent.
39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in
them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that
testify about me,
40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,
And v.v. 45-47 goes on to state
45“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your
accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.
46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote
about me.
47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you
going to believe what I say?”
It is with this intent that Christ makes this statement stating that
John was the final voice of the old testament.
Hebrews 1:1-2 further affirms this truth: 1 In the past God
spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and
in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom
he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made
the universe.
Our Lord chosen John the Baptist to be His forerunner even
stating that he was the Elijah who was to come. We accept this
truth seeing the parallel between these two figures not only in
their apparel but also in the similitude of their message.
V.15. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
After presenting the truth about Himself and John's testimony
about Him, our Lord challenged His hearers to hear but they all
didn't seem to have spiritual ears except for a few. It is God
alone who can draw people to His Son and it is only through
the Spirit's testimony that people can accept Christ's words and
His claims to deity. Man as intelligent as he is needs a
revelation from God and cannot rely on his natural senses to
comprehend the infinite. However, it is through the agency of
the Spirit that he can have a substantial yet finite understanding
of who Christ is and accept the truth revealed in the Holy Writ.
Christ is the final if not the ultimate revelation of God Himself.
Christ stated to His disciple Philip that whoever has seen Him,
has seen the Father. As Hebrews 1:3 emphatically states that
Christ is the express image of God the Father. People who
reject Christ refuse light and eternal life and henceforth accept
darkness and doom. Those who reject the message of the
Cross have their minds enslaved by the evil one. The degree to
which this rejection of God's Son and hatred for the truth and
the love for evil will become so tantamount to the nth degree
that they will believe 'the Lie' even as God sends upon them a
strong delusion. Apart from Christ who is 'the Truth' there only
remains lies left for man to accept even believing a refuge of
lies. Without Christ who is the 'the Light of the world', their
would remain darkness which would eventually culminate in
eternal darkness reserved for those who do not obey the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without Christ who is Life itself
even the very Resurrection, their remains a covenant with
death which would eventually lead to eternal death and a
resurrection of condemnation
