John,
I ran across these verses in Matthew 11, and I am not sure I understand them. Would you mind explaining verse 12? In verse 14 what is the “it” referring to? Is the “it” referring to the fact that John is the “Elijah who is to come” or John’s message? (I included verses 10 and 11 for context.)
Thanks,
Tom
10. for this is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you!’
11. Truly, I tell you, there has not arisen, among those born of women, a greater man than John the Baptizer; and yet, the least one in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12. The kingdom of heaven is being earnestly sought, from the days of John the Baptizer until now, and the forceful are seizing upon it.
13. All the prophets and the law prophesied until John,
14. and if you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah who is to come.
15. He who has ears to hear, let him hear
Thanks,
Tom
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Hi, Tom.
Verse 12 has been the subject of a lot of debate for many years. I see you have used our translation, which includes the following footnote at the end: Or, “The kingdom of heaven is being treated violently from the days of John the Baptizer until now, and the violent are seizing upon it.”
Either of those translations is possible. The kingdom of God must be sought (Mt.6:33), and the kingdom of God (or, those in it) is often abused, or “treated violently” (Acts 14:22). And those seizing upon it may be understood as the seekers, earnestly, or “forcefully” sizing it, or understood as those abusing the kingdom (the violent).
The reason we went with the translation you quoted is that we felt to say that the kingdom of heaven is being treated violently has to be explained more than if we say there kingdom of God is being earnestly sought.
As for verse 14, the “it” is what follows, “this is Elijah who is to come”. Jesus could have said, “If you are able to believe it….” He knew it was a challenge for them to believe that.
Thanks for the questions. Hope to see you soon.
Pastor John