The greatest in the kingdom, are those who know and follow Christ. It is those who follow Christ that witness the kingdom’s reality. There is more to the kingdom than just believing……we must follow and do. God’s wisdom is seen in Jesus’ deeds and His teaching. Matthew 11:11-12 are part of the story of John the Baptist sending a messenger to Jesus. In order to understand these verses we must look at them in context. First, let’s look at the scriptures:
Matthew 11:1-19 (TNIV)
1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of 2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ (This thought comes from Aesop’s fabel, The Piping Fisherman) 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”
Here, in verses 1-2 (Matthew 11:1-2), John the Baptist sends a messenger to see Jesus and to ask Him if He was the Messiah. Why would John the Baptist ask this? To understand, we must look at the Scriptures through the lens of this ancient time and the Jewish anticipation of the coming Messiah. We know that the Jews expected the Messiah to come in judgement and compassion and John was only hearing stories of Jesus’ compassion and miracles. So John wonders if Jesus is the Messiah, not understanding that His first coming is in mercy, and the second coming will be in judgement. He also seems to have this question asked “in code”, in a veiled way, and Jesus gives the answer “in code”. The reason for this I believe, is that Jesus has just begun His ministry and He knows His time has not yet come. Jesus’ words reflect the prophecy of Isaiah about the final kingdom, Isaiah 35:5-6. His message to John the Baptist is clear, Jesus proclaims that yes, He is the long awaited Messiah.
I am particularly intrigued by what Jesus says in verse 6 here, “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” It’s almost as if Jesus is letting John know that even though He is the Messiah, that John will not be set free. Additionally, again, the Jews were expecting a liberator, a warrior Messiah. While Jesus’ words and deeds were worthy of the Messiah, He did not meet the political expectations of most Jews. So Jesus warns John and all the Jews not to let these expectations to come between them.
Next, Jesus starts talking to the crowd gathered around and telling them about John the Baptist. A very important clue is about to revealed about the kingdom of heaven/kingdom of God! You can always tell this because Jesus says, “I tell you the truth”. First, Jesus tells them that John is more than a prophet, He is the one that Isaiah prophesied would prepare the way for the Messiah. And then Jesus tells us that John the Baptist is greater than any man born of women here on earth! Yet……….Jesus tells us that whomever is least in the kingdom of Heaven/kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. Almost perplexing! At least in my mind. But, as I thought about it, I realized that while John the Baptist knew who Christ was, he never saw or understood Christ’ finished work on the cross. John would die before Jesus would die and rise again to bring about the beginning the kingdom. Follower’s of Jesus, because they will witness the kingdom’s reality, will have privilege and place greater than John’s.
This helps me to understand another of Jesus’ sayings that has always perplexed me in Matthew 10:32-42. I have always wondered what Jesus meant about turning a man against his family…..all He was saying was that we must love God first and foremost, we must follow Jesus, and when we do, sometimes even our families will turn against us because they are unbelievers. Of particular note is the ending of this discourse when Jesus tells us in verse 42, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is known to be my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly be rewarded”.There is more to the kingdom than just believing……we must follow and do.
The clue’s to the kingdom get even stronger here. Jesus tells us in verse 12, “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it”. You see, it is true, at this time in history, the Jews, indeed Jewish Zealot’s, used force to advance the kingdom by wanting to overthrow Rome. I believe that it is important to look at this verse also in other versions to get a fuller meaning. Above, verse 12 is cited from the TNIV, here is verse 12 in:
Amplified Bible
And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize–a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].
New King James
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
New Living Translation
And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.
Another thought I see is that since the times of the Old Testament and indeed in the very age of John the Baptist, that God’s Kingdom was heralded in by force. To me, what I see, especially in light of the next verses (Matthew 11:16-19), is Jesus subtly telling us that violence is the wrong way. The key being the end of verse 19, “But wisdom is proved right by her actions”. I see Jesus, when He say’s this, pointing to Himself and saying that this is the true way, to live life loving others and [implied] bring others to the foot of the cross. God’s wisdom is seen in Jesus’ deeds.
I also find verses 11-19 (Matthew 11:16-19) interesting about what it says about the current generation and, indeed, I believe, our current generation….in fact, all generations. Often, no matter how much people know about Jesus, about God, many take a cynical and skeptical view because Jesus challenges their comfortable, secure, and self-centered lives. Jesus compares them to “children sitting in the marketplaces” . The market place was where business was conducted. Children playing there may copy the adults (such as playing instruments at a wedding or mourning at a funeral) in their actions, and call out to others to join them, but their friends ignore them and go on playing.
Aesop was a real person who lived during the time of King Croesus, in Sardis, in what is now modern day Turkey. He was a member of the Kings court. Aesop wrote a whole collection of stories that had a hidden meaning or moral to the story.They were written several centuries before Christ.
Additionally, I have to touch on verses 13-14 (Matthew 11:13-14). Many people use this verse as proof that the Bible teaches reincarnation. Here, it shows how important it is to know God’s Words to us, His people. EHHHHH (that’s a buzzer sound announcing, “wrong answer, try again!”). Elijah never died….so how could someone be reincarnated as Elijah? We are told in the book of 2 Kings 2:11-12 that Elijah was swept up into heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire with horses. Just had to set this straight. I would also note here that the prophet Malachi in Malachi 3:1 and Malachi 4:5 tells us that John the Baptist would be coming and Jesus let’s us know that John took on Elija’s prophetic role.
Additionally, this same story can be found in the Gospel of Luke 7:18-34. As shown previously in parallel verses, the “kingdom of God” was used rather than the “kingdom of heaven” .
Today’s CLUE: The greatest in the kingdom, are those who know and follow Christ. It is those who follow Christ that witness the kingdom’s reality. There is more to the kingdom than just believing……we must follow and do. God’s wisdom is seen in Jesus’ deeds and His teaching.
My friend from Houston (Ron) made the following comment concerning this post:
“Man – I tell you Jan, you sure build some eloborate constructs in order to preserve your orthodox lens. John did not know who Christ was or about his finishing work? John 29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
There is no one answer to what or where the kingdom of God is. References to the “Kingdom” in the Bible are contradictory and quite paradoxical. The question is can you be comfortable with not “knowing” or “understanding” the paradox?”
My Reply:
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I appreciate your comments very much. Regarding John the Baptist, you say in reference to my statements above: “John did not know who Christ was or about his finishing work?”. All due respect Ron, this is not what I said at all. My statement was, “I realized that while John the Baptist KNEW who Christ was, he never saw or understood Christ’ FINISHED work on the cross. John would die before Jesus would die and rise again to bring about the beginning of the kingdom.” (emphasis added). There is a big difference here in what you may have thought I said and what I said.
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It is very true that in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 29, John the Baptist says “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”. I can clearly see what you are suggesting and in many ways it does make sense. However, in my study of the Kingdom language, first, I would note that Jesus did not say that John the Baptist would not be in the kingdom, however He pointed out that of the least in the kingdom, even they would be greater than John. I would throw in that we often want to equate “least” and “greater” with some sort of power or status. I believe that Jesus was speaking of neither (based on my careful study of the character of Jesus, which, by the way, I am not claiming to know all, I am simply speaking what I see and understand). Jesus was simply telling us that in God’s COMING kingdom, all members will have a greater spiritual heritage than John because they will have seen (not literally) and known Christ and his finished work on the cross. John the Baptist did not, as he was martyred well before Jesus death and resurrection. I believe that what Jesus was saying was that while the Prophet Isaiah (Jesus was quoting Scripture from Isaiah) or John the Baptist had clear views of God, that those that have heard the teaching of the Messiah and have benefited from the hearing of His instructions and teachings, and also have benefited from looking at His example here on earth…….well, it might be said that they will have more correct apprehensions than any of the ancient prophets, or even those of John the Baptist.
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I agree strongly that there is no ONE answer to what or where the kingdom of God is. You are very correct here. However, I do not believe that “References to the “Kingdom” in the Bible are contradictory”. What I am seeing is that these references serve to build a big picture like pieces of a puzzle. Jesus clearly spoke in parables and often in a veiled way. I believe, so that people would think. I would also agree that many of Jesus teachings seemed paradoxical, on the surface they SEEMED contradictory, yet, I believe that they were true and upon close examination, not contradictory at all. The disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 13 why he spoke in parables. This is something I will be looking closely at soon as a part of this series of post. In short, He told them that they could see clearly because these secrets had been given to them, however, those who do not believe or do not want to believe, even telling them straight or even if they see it with their eyes, they still will not believe. Additionally, many prophets and men of God longed to see the kingdom but were unable because it had not arrived in their time. There is more, but this is the jist of this teaching by Jesus.
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As far as “elaborate constructs” in order to preserve my orthodox lens…..I believe that many would say that I am not orthodox at all. I do not believe I am elaborately constructing anything….I am simply researching, learning, and seeking to understand what was meant by applying historical, cultural and contextual methods. I am certainly not saying that I have all the answers, I am simply sharing what I find from my “lens”. I do not adhere to any particular orthodoxy. I do start simply with the premise (based on what I have seen and understand) that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that Jesus is who He said He was.