A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (January 24, 2018)
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)
The common interpretation of our “Scripture for the Day” concerns me because so many believers, and the vast majority of Biblical commentators, teach that this scripture is referring to believers when it refers to the violent. The question is, does this scripture really refer to believers and the Spirit of God or does it refer to a totally different Spirit? Have we interpreted this scripture correctly over the years or are we taking this verse completely out of context? Let’s delve into this question.
Let’s first do a little word study on “violent” and look at a few scriptures related to “violent” and “violence”. The Hebrew word used for violent in the Old Testament is “chamac” which means violence, unjust gain, damage, unrighteous, and false. The Greek word used for violent in Matthew 11:12 is “biastes” which means to force, to press, or to seize. Now, let’s look at a few Old Testament scriptures using these words:
The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. (Psalm 11:5)
O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. (Psalm 86:14)
Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. (Psalm 14:1-4)
If you look at all the scriptures in the Old and New Testaments which contain violent or violence you will find that none of them are referring to the righteous.
I recently shared with a close ministry friend my concern over the common interpretation of Matthew 11:12 and asked for his feedback. My friend (Pastor David Mitts) is a Messianic Jewish believer, a Harvard graduate, and a duel citizen of the United States and Israel. He is one of the most learned and trusted men of God I know. The following is his personal response to me:
“I think the key to any verse is as you said to look at the context and to see what doesn’t make sense if you adopt a particular emphasis. I agree with you that the violence is in relationship to the religious system and its appropriation of the kingdom of God as the “correct interpreters”. That’s the real damage of religion, that it defines what is Godly and what isn’t. It’s dangerous because it steals from the broken ones access to God’s love by providing hurdles to leap over that they cannot!”
“I think one key to the verse is the statement “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ (Matthew 11:16-17) I think this is a clear reference to being out of tune with the Holy Spirit. The violence is the religious spirit and as you said, it is a nasty critter. It freezes us in fear and fear always is the mother of violence. God’s Kingdom is based on love, not abuse! He leaves the strong for the weak and died for them all!”
The following is my personal belief. As you look around the world today you can see all kind of violence from beheadings of Christians in the Middle East to violent protests in our own country. This violence is not of God! As you look at what John the Baptist was experiencing, and what Jesus suffered, that Spirit was not from the Spirit of God. As Christians, whatever we receive from God is by grace. You cannot force your way into the Kingdom of God through violence or receive anything from God’s Kingdom by violent behavior. As my friend David Mitts so eloquently put it. “God’s kingdom is based on love, not abuse!” We are not to incorporate the ways of the world into our own actions. Jesus told us that we would see these type things in the last days so we should not be surprised to see escalating violence and hatred but we should not participate. We are not of that Spirit!
We encourage each of you to read Matthew 11:7-19 for yourselves and make your own decision. Just because we have been taught for years that it means one thing does not necessarily make it so.
