The Riddle of Matt 11:12
Before you begin
Many Bible studies create busy work that makes people feel productive but ultimately results in reflection for reflection’s sake. I want this study to build up skills you will use every time you reach for your Bible. Instead of just reading it, you will be able to engage with it intentionally. This study is designed to be practical, not theoretical.
By the end of this study, you will be able to:
- articulate why Matthew 11:12 is a difficult verse to interpret;
- explain why thoughtful readers have arrived at different conclusions;
- evaluate translation options without relying on Greek expertise; and
- defend a reading of the verse without claiming false certainty.
Introduction
The original meaning of the “violence saying” that follows is one of the greatest riddles of the exegesis of the Synoptics.
Ulrich Luz, Matthew: A Commentary, ed. Helmut Koester, Hermeneia—a Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001), 140.
Right about the middle of chapter 11 of Matthew’s gospel, while He is discussing John the Baptist who was, by then, locked up in prison, Jesus makes a bold but curious statement: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” (KJV).
As we will discuss, it’s curious for a whole host of reasons, but here are a few that stand out. First, the statement is an aside, not a discourse. It comes unprompted. It’s unexplained and not elaborated upon. It’s unanchored to explicit Scripture, typology, or parable. Jesus says it, and then just moves on.
There is no decoding. None of the “he who has ears” kind of language. There is no private clarification for the Twelve. Nothing.
Most hard sayings give you something to grab:
- parables give you imagery
- apocalyptic gives you symbols
- ethical commands give you actionables
- Scripture citations or allusions give you interpretive guardrails
But here? We have
- one ambiguous verb
- one morally loaded noun
- one violent metaphor
- zero elaboration
With that, let’s call on our inner Sherlock Holmes, roll up our sleeves, and see what we can discern from this marvelous little verse. Wherever you land on what the verse means, the effort of digging will strengthen your Bible reading skills, will make you think deeply about Jesus and the message of the cross, will deepen your engagement with Jesus and sharpen the way you read Scripture.
The Text
Sampling of English Translations
As you read, notice that the differences between these translations cluster around just two verbs. Pay attention to how each translation handles agency and action.
| Translation | Rendering |
|---|---|
| KJV | And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. |
| MEV | From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has forcefully advanced, and the strong take it by force. |
| ESV | From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (Fn re violence: “Or has been coming violently.”) |
| NASB: 1995 Update | From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. (Fn re suffers: “Or is forcibly entered.” Fn re take: “Or seize it for themselves.”) |
| Joseph Bryant Rotherham, The Emphasized Bible: A Translation Designed to Set Forth the Exact Meaning, the Proper Terminology, and the Graphic Style of the Sacred Original (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2010), Mt 11:12. | But <from the days of John the Immerser､ until even now> The kingdom of the heavens |is being invaded|, And |invaders| are ||seizing upon it||. *Rotherham’s is a special type of Bible that attempts to show the emphasis in the original languages by using special symbols and formatting. |
Greek Text (Optional, for Greek-inclined readers)
Textus Receptus Text
12. ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν ἡμερῶν Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ ἕως ἄρτι ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν βιάζεται, καὶ βιασταὶ ἁρπάζουσιν αὐτήν.
NA28 Text (no textual variants)
12. ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν ἡμερῶν Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ ἕως ἄρτι ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν βιάζεται, καὶ βιασταὶ ἁρπάζουσιν αὐτήν.
Key Terms
- βασιλεία – fem. sg. nom ▶ βασιλεία
- βιάζεται – v. 3rd sg. pres. mid. or pas. ind. ▶ βιάζω
- βιασταὶ – masc. pl. nom. ▶ βιαστής
- ἁρπάζουσιν – v. 3rd pl. pres. act. ind. ▶ ἁρπάζω
- αὐτήν – 3rd pers. pro. fem. sg. acc. ▶ αὐτός
In order to not influence your analysis, I’m not putting any definitions of these words here. If you have access to a lexicon (that’s just a fancy word for dictionary), look these words up. If you do not, don’t worry—you can still complete this exercise by working carefully with the English translations above. Otherwise, keep reading!
If you don’t have access to a Greek lexicon, but want to look up the words. There are many available online resources, such as Blue Letter Bible’s Bible Search and Study Tools.
Working Through the Text
Step one
You may already have formed an understanding of this verse. Write down what you currently think it means. After you examine the verse, you may find that your current view stays the same or you might find it changed slightly or significantly.
Step two
For English-only readers. Study the English text. Read the translations above, and in your preferred Bible (if it is not included above) several times. Then read the entirety of Matthew chapter 11 a few times through. Note down any observations that you have made.
For Greek readers. Before studying the English text, read the Greek. Diagram it using a grammatical diagram. Then, translate it. After you translate it, go back to the “for English-only readers” and go through that step, adding in your own translation to the mix.
Step three
Look up the key words in a good lexicon. What observations can you draw from studying these words?
If you do not have access to a lexicon, don’t worry—you can still complete this exercise by working carefully with the English translations above. Skip this step and keep reading!
If you don’t have access to a Greek lexicon, but still want to look up the words. There are many available online resources, such as Blue Letter Bible’s Bible Search and Study Tools.
Step four
At this point, pause and write a one-sentence paraphrase of the verse in your own words—even if you’re unsure or conflicted.
Step five
In order to analyze the passage, ask yourself the following questions. Note your answers. Some of the questions you may not be able to answer without more study or an examination of outside resources. That’s fine. Note the question and come back to it when you can.
- How does immediate narrative context constrain lexical options?
- When should ambiguity be resolved—and when should it be preserved?
- What controls interpretation: immediate context or canonical theology?
- When is metaphorical violence a legitimate category in Jesus’ teaching?
- How do spiritual ideals influence what readers see in the text?
- How do first-century political expectations shape kingdom language?
Next step
We will pick up step six in the next lesson where we will examine the most common schools of thought on this passage.