Why Is the Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Violence? (1)
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September 20, 2026 |
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“From the days of John the Baptist until now
the kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and violent men take it by force.”
(Matthew 11:12)
Matthew 11:12 says, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.” The kingdom of heaven is the realm of God, who is light, a domain of light where the enemy devil and Satan cannot even approach. How, then, could anyone dare to make heaven suffer violence, and what does it mean to take it by force?
This verse explains the process through which God's saved children enter the kingdom of heaven by faith and attain complete faith. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ can be saved and go to heaven, but the enemy devil and Satan constantly seek opportunities to hinder people from believing the gospel, and to tempt even those who have already accepted the Lord into committing sin. Because we must fight against and defeat the enemy devil and take the kingdom of heaven, it says that violent men take it by force.
1. From the days of John the Baptist until now
When we stand against evil spirits and overcome them by faith, we can possess and enter a better place in heaven. John the Baptist was given the mission to prepare the way and bear witness to Jesus so that He could fulfill His work as the Savior. Therefore, “from the days of John the Baptist until now” ultimately signifies the era of Jesus Christ and the New Testament era, where salvation is received by faith.
In Old Testament times, people received salvation through the works of the Law. If they sinned by failing to keep the Law, they had to offer an animal sacrifice for atonement. On the other hand, the New Testament era is the era of the Holy Spirit and grace; through believing in the Lord Jesus, sins are forgiven and salvation is received by the merit of His precious blood and the power of the Holy Spirit. However, it is wrong to misunderstand this and think that as long as one confesses “I believe” with their lips, they will be saved even if they commit sin. This is because while in the Old Testament, one was not condemned unless they committed a sinful act?even if evil remained in their heart?in the New Testament, harboring evil in one's heart is already sin in itself.
Galatians 5:19?21 says, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery… those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” If one possesses saving faith, they naturally must not commit deeds of sin; furthermore, casting away even the evil in one's heart is God's will for us.
Does this mean it is more difficult to receive salvation in the New Testament era? No, it does not. In the Old Testament, people had to keep the Law by their own willpower and effort, whereas in the New Testament, we can cast away sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. As Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation,” those who have faith in the core of their heart will surely keep and practice the Law. If we truly believe that God is our Father and that Jesus bore the cross for my sins, a person who used to commit evil will practice goodness, and a person who used to vent anger will transform into a gentle person, becoming a righteous and holy person by casting away not only sinful actions but the sinful nature of the heart itself.
This is made possible not by human strength, but by the merit of the precious blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Whenever anyone accepts the Lord by faith and strives to cast away sin, the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon them, allowing them to throw off even the sinful nature of the heart and gradually transform into a clean heart resembling the Lord.
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