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MATTHEW 11:12 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 11:11Matt 11:13
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. The difficult verse about the kingdom's violence has been interpreted in multiple ways: as a description of the opposition the kingdom is facing (violent men attack it), or as a commendation of those who press urgently into it. The context — praise of John, commendation of those who accept the kingdom — suggests the latter emphasis: from John's ministry forward, the kingdom requires the kind of urgent, determined response that is sometimes called violent in its intensity.

Church Fathers on Matthew 11:12

That what He had last said should not lead any to suppose that John was an alien from the kingdom of heaven, He corrects this by adding, 'From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.'

Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · non occ.

By the kingdom of heaven is meant the heavenly throne, wither when sinners defiled with any evil deed return in penitence, and amend themselves, they enter as sinners into the place of another, and take by violence the kingdom of heaven.

Gregory the Great · 6th century · Hom in Ev., xx. 14

Because John the Baptist was the first who preached repentance to the people, saying, 'Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand;' rightly therefore from that day forth it may be said, that 'the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.' For great indeed is the violence, when we who are born of earth, seek an abode in heaven, and obtain by excellence what we have not by nature.

Jerome · 4th century
Read all 11 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Matthew 11:12 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy