“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.” Matthew 11:12 NLT

Depending on which translation you read the above scripture has significant meaning in the modern day in which we live and one that we should pay attention to. Some translations say: “… the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force.” (NKJ version and others like it.)

I don’t know about you but it sounds rather strange to me when I hear the Kingdom Heaven and the word ‘violent’ or ‘violence’ in the same verse. And the thought that the Kingdom of Heaven would ‘suffer’ anything doesn’t make sense to me. God is in need of nothing from anyone let alone His Kingdom in need of anything. He is God! Does that make sense?

However, I don’t think Jesus meant the word ‘violence‘ in the way we think it means. It’s not a physical doing harm to someone but rather a forceful entry into something – a forceful passionate desire to enter into the Kingdom – something that was lacking even in His day. On one hand it ‘suffers’ that forceful, passionate desire for entry and on the other hand, there are those who have found it, and that forceful passion is making its way into it.

This word ‘violent’ or ‘violence’ in this verse carries with it a deep sense of passion. An unquenchable desire or purpose. A fiery passion if you will, or the forceful desire to push past whatever it is that is hindering you from entering into something of greater significance. In this case the Kingdom. And that the ‘violent’ or ‘passionate’ people are ‘attacking it’ – not letting anything or anyone hold them back from entering it. May we all have such a desire in these days.

Passion can be a funny thing. We all have those moments or seasons in life when our commitment level is not where it once was or where it should be. And that the words of the Apostle Paul comes to mind where he says to Timothy to fan into flame, rekindle the gift of God that is within you. (II Tim 6:12) For anyone who has a heart after God this is of utmost importance in their Christian life: To keep the fire burning on the inside!

Looking at this verse from that perspective it makes perfect sense! In essence Jesus is saying that the Kingdom is passionately advancing all over the earth at an unprecedented rate and that extremely passionate people are going after it as hard as they can not letting anyone or anything hold them back from entering it. It is a passionate place (realm) where God’s love prevails and consumes everything in it’s path. What this tells me is that the Kingdom of Heaven is an attractive place (realm). It is irresistible! And that once you have been touched by it you are forever changed by the power of that Kingdom – God’s Kingdom. You can not help but surrender to it!

~ Dan Ecker