12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:12–15 (ESV)
In today’s text, Jesus Christ was acknowledging the political and societal issues of His day. This particularly had to do with the battle between two kingdoms: the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of heaven.
The kingdoms of darkness and light have been in conflict with each other even prior to Genesis 3 (Isaiah 14:12-21; Ezekiel 28:11-19). Moses’ recorded the events in the Garden of Eden that brought the conflict into the human realm (Genesis 3:1-21; Romans 5:12-21).
The kingdom of darkness uses violence against the kingdom of heaven. Persecution, intimidation, incarceration and eventually execution are the prevailing methods used by opponents of the Gospel (Acts 1-12; 21-28; 2 Cor. 11). This ungodly methodology continues.
At the same time, the first century Zealots were Jewish political insurrectionists. They believed the kingdom of heaven was earthly and political. They sought to eliminate Rome and reestablish an earthly kingdom in Israel by force and violence. They longed for the days of King David and Solomon. They desired an earthly Messiah. Many today desire the same. They resist, often by force, the clear teaching of the Gospel.
“The kingdom (of heaven) was pressing ahead with force although violent men such as Herod were trying to overcome it be force. It is not the strong and forceful who obtain the kingdom but the weak and helpless who depend upon God (Matt. 11:28-30),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Jesus clearly explained that John the Baptist was the Elijah of which Malachi prophesied (Malachi 3:1; 4:5). Gabriel also announced that John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). In referring to the Law and the Prophets, Jesus affirmed the inerrancy and authority of the Old Testament.
“Jesus here endorses John as the promise of Malachi. The people understood Malachi 4:1 to mean the return of Elijah in person. This John denied as to himself (John 1:21). But Jesus affirms that John is the Elijah of promise who has come already (Matt. 17:12). He emphasizes the point: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear,” explains commentator A.T. Robertson.
Jesus Christ evidenced that He was the Messiah; not only by His signs and wonders (John 3:1-2) but also by John’s testimony and ministry (John 1:29-34). More than a prophet, priest, king or moral teacher, Jesus Christ is Lord. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the One, True God.
“He who had ears to hear, let him hear. We know that it is customary with Christ to introduce this sentence, whenever He treats subject which are highly important, and which deserve no ordinary attention. He reminds us why the mysteries of which He speaks are not received by all. It is because many of His hearers are (spiritually) deaf, or at least have their ears closed,” explains John Calvin.
“But now, as every man is hindered not only by his own unbelief, but by the mutual influence which men exercise on each other, Christ here exhorts the elect of God to consider attentively this remarkable secret of God and not to remain deaf with unbelievers.”
They who have ears to hear, let them hear.
Soli deo Gloria!
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