Post by alon on Jul 31, 2015 16:12:53 GMT -8
The following is taken from www.yashanet.com/studies/matstudy/mat5c.htm There is obviously a lot more there, but this is the essential understanding I wanted to bring up. Matthew 11:12 is a very difficult verse for which I've heard (and given) several interpretations. This is a good insight I thought I'd share.
Matthew 11:12 (Young's Literal Translation) `And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force,
Matthew 3:2 (ESV) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
G1448 ἐγγίζω eggizō … to make near, that is, (reflexively) approach: - approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.
Other sources say a better translation would be "the Kingdom of Heaven is offered to come."
Isaiah 60:22 (ESV) The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.
The Rabbis noticed a contradiction in the phrase "I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it." Tractate b.San. 98a: R. Alexandri said: R. Joshua b. Levi pointed out a contradiction. It is written, "In its time [will the Messianic Kingdom come], whilst it is also written, "I [the L-RD] will hasten it!"-- If they are worthy, I will hasten it; if not, [it will come] at the due time." So the Rabbis understood this verse to mean that the L-RD would offer to hasten the Messianic Kingdom, if they were worthy but if not, the Kingdom would not come until its due time.
Deuteronomy 30:1-6 (ESV) “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."
This passage is thought by some to describe a time when Yisro’el repents and the kingdom is established. Compare the above with:
Matthew 23:39 (ESV) For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 11:12 (ESV) From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
DuTillet Mt. 11:12 Only from the days of Yochanan the Immerser until now the Kingdom of Heaven is constricted and the forceful despoil it.
Luke 16:16 (ESV) “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
Syriac & Peshitta Aramaic Luke 16:16 The Law and the prophets were until Yochanan henceforth the Kingdom of G-d is announced but everyone treats it with violence.
So when it says the "violent take it by force," according to this interpretation this means it is because of violent men still with us, men who do not accept
nor follow its precepts, their presence is why the kingdom of God will not be here with us until the fullness of its time.
Dan C
There was a discussion on "Kingdom Now Theology" earlier this might shed some light on as well.
Matthew 11:12 (Young's Literal Translation) `And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force,
Matthew 3:2 (ESV) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
G1448 ἐγγίζω eggizō … to make near, that is, (reflexively) approach: - approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.
Other sources say a better translation would be "the Kingdom of Heaven is offered to come."
yashnet The kingdom of heaven was (apparently) offered at Sinai, when the sin of the Golden Calf caused the offer to be "withdrawn." John the Baptist announcement of repentance and the person of Yeshua as HaMoshiach was also an offer, as was the ministry of Yeshua Himself. Most Jews did not accept, continuing a violent era in Jewish history towards each other; and again the offer of the Kingdom was withdrawn.
The Kingdom of G-d/Heaven is the restored Kingdom of Israel (see Jer. 23:5-6; Is. 9:6-7; 11 with 1Chron. 28:5; 2Chron.13:8.) The Hebrew text of Mt. 3:2 & 4:17 & Mk. 1:14-15 does indicate that the Kingdom was right there, available, if they would just repent. The passage is a conditional statement with an implied "if" as we find in Jonah 3:4.
Yeshua continued to proclaim this Kingdom offer throughout his career (Mt. 12:28 = Lk. 11:20; Mk. 12:34; Lk.10:9, 11; 17:21) even sending out his emissaries with the same proclamation (Mt. 10:7.) This is the meaning of the passage, "...if you are willing to receive it [the Kingdom], he [Yochanan] is Elijah who is to come." (Mt. 11:14 see 11:12).
The Kingdom of G-d/Heaven is the restored Kingdom of Israel (see Jer. 23:5-6; Is. 9:6-7; 11 with 1Chron. 28:5; 2Chron.13:8.) The Hebrew text of Mt. 3:2 & 4:17 & Mk. 1:14-15 does indicate that the Kingdom was right there, available, if they would just repent. The passage is a conditional statement with an implied "if" as we find in Jonah 3:4.
Yeshua continued to proclaim this Kingdom offer throughout his career (Mt. 12:28 = Lk. 11:20; Mk. 12:34; Lk.10:9, 11; 17:21) even sending out his emissaries with the same proclamation (Mt. 10:7.) This is the meaning of the passage, "...if you are willing to receive it [the Kingdom], he [Yochanan] is Elijah who is to come." (Mt. 11:14 see 11:12).
Isaiah 60:22 (ESV) The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.
The Rabbis noticed a contradiction in the phrase "I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it." Tractate b.San. 98a: R. Alexandri said: R. Joshua b. Levi pointed out a contradiction. It is written, "In its time [will the Messianic Kingdom come], whilst it is also written, "I [the L-RD] will hasten it!"-- If they are worthy, I will hasten it; if not, [it will come] at the due time." So the Rabbis understood this verse to mean that the L-RD would offer to hasten the Messianic Kingdom, if they were worthy but if not, the Kingdom would not come until its due time.
Deuteronomy 30:1-6 (ESV) “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."
This passage is thought by some to describe a time when Yisro’el repents and the kingdom is established. Compare the above with:
Matthew 23:39 (ESV) For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 11:12 (ESV) From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
DuTillet Mt. 11:12 Only from the days of Yochanan the Immerser until now the Kingdom of Heaven is constricted and the forceful despoil it.
Luke 16:16 (ESV) “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
Syriac & Peshitta Aramaic Luke 16:16 The Law and the prophets were until Yochanan henceforth the Kingdom of G-d is announced but everyone treats it with violence.
So when it says the "violent take it by force," according to this interpretation this means it is because of violent men still with us, men who do not accept
nor follow its precepts, their presence is why the kingdom of God will not be here with us until the fullness of its time. Dan C
There was a discussion on "Kingdom Now Theology" earlier this might shed some light on as well.
