MATTHEW 11:12-15
THE KINGDOM
OF HEAVEN
In
the name + of Jesus.
The
voice of the LORD
cries to the city—
and
it is sound wisdom [O LORD] to
fear your name. (Micah 6:9)
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of
heaven has suffered violence, and
the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)
That doesn’t sound right. We
would think that Jesus would state that the kingdom of heaven is coming to
crush all that are in opposition to it.
We would think Jesus would tell us that kingdom is glorious, and that it
will stand glorious even as the whole world falls apart. Instead, Jesus says that the kingdom of
heaven suffers violence. And when Jesus
says this, he is not suggesting that anything will change. The verb was translated the kingdom of heaven has
suffered violence, as if it would soon be a thing of the past. But the verb is actually present tense. The
kingdom of heaven is suffering
violence, and violent men are
grabbing hold of it.
This was the case in the days of Jesus and John the Baptist. Each began their preaching with the exact
same message: “Repent, for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2; 4:17)
The kingdom of heaven is revealed and established in Jesus Christ. He alone is the source of mercy, forgiveness,
and eternal life. Outside of Jesus
Christ, there is no hope and no salvation.
So even if your neighbor or co-worker seems to be nicer than you are, does
more good than you do, has achieved more honor, or has sacrificed more than
you, that does not save him. Outside of
Christ there is no forgiveness, no matter how great someone seems. Salvation does not come by your deeds of
love, but by Jesus’ deeds of love for you.
In other words: by faith alone.
But your senses tell you that faith cannot be enough. Your senses tell you that you must do
something to be saved. There must be
something in you that makes you worthy.
We usually decide for ourselves what that thing is: I am more sincere. I have put in
more time. I have refrained from
cheating. I am a good parent. I get to church more than most. We will even give ourselves credit because
we intended to do better. In other words, we believe we deserve a
reward. And while we recognize that
Jesus’ death was important, we think that it is equally important that there
was something in us which has merited God’s attention and affection.
So the kingdom of heaven suffers violence—not
just from King Herod who kills John the Baptist; not just from Caiaphas who
plots to destroy Jesus; not just from Muslims who decapitate Christians; not
just from post-modern Americans who are appalled that the Church still calls
sins evil; but even from you who take pride in your good works and think that
they have earned something for you, who think that your opinion is equal to
God’s judgment, and who look down on others because they have not been as
righteous or moral or honest as you. The
kingdom of heaven suffers violence at the hands and mouths of everyone. For, everyone presumes to think and speak for
God and to judge on God’s behalf. This
is nothing new. Adam and Eve sought to
become like God in the Garden. To this
day, we all grasp for that position. We
all strive and struggle and violently attempt to seize not just the kingdom but
the kingship. Repent.
The very first of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses states: Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He
said [Repent!], willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance. Those words began what we now call the
Lutheran Reformation. Now, if something
is going to be reformed, there will be an act of violence involved. Steel that is reformed into the frame of a
truck will endure violent blows. Marble
that is reformed into a statue will be hammered and chiseled. Likewise you, when the Lord works repentance
in you, must destroy your sinful nature and reform you into a new nature.
The clash between heaven and hell was never going to be peaceful. The Lord Jesus did not come to forge a
treaty, but to destroy Satan and his kingdom.
The very first promise of the Savior foretells of the violence. In speaking to the serpent, the Lord said that
the Seed of the Woman would “bruise your
head, and you will bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) Each would deliver a violent blow. Satan struck against Jesus who willing took
all Satan had to give. Jesus took your
sins, your curse, your death, and your hell.
Jesus absorbed all the venom of Satan and endured a violent, shameful
death.
But by going into death, Jesus delivered a violent, crushing blow upon
sin, death, and Satan. By dying for you,
Jesus paid for all your sins. So, by
dying, Jesus delivered you from Satan’s domain.
Then Jesus destroyed death by rising from the grave. Jesus delivered you from death by his
resurrection. Jesus did not leave sin,
death, and Satan wounded; he crushed them all underfoot. Likewise, Jesus does not leave you in doubt
about your forgiveness, resurrection, and eternal life. Jesus lives; no one can kill him off. Jesus reigns; nothing can overthrow his
kingdom. So, even though the kingdom of
heaven suffers violence, not even the gates of hell can overcome it. You have been delivered from death to
life. You have been brought from Satan’s
domain into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus
is your refuge, your hope, your salvation, and your life. You are secure in his kingdom.
Nevertheless, what Jesus said is still true: “The
kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and
the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12) You
still live in the Church Militant, and that means that the violence will
continue. Your greatest struggles are
not against the forces of ISIS , but against
your own sinful flesh. Your
sinful nature does not willingly surrender.
For, it does not want to die. Temptations
from your own flesh are ever-present and persistent. If you surrender to them, you will
perish. So you must fight against and
pray. Put your sins to death by repentance, and
Jesus will raise you up with his divine absolution. You will confess your faith before a world
which despises Jesus, and they will despise and ridicule you for it. You will be mocked for doing what is good,
and you will be despised for calling sins evil.
The kingdom of heaven will not appear glorious in this world. The Christian life with not be easy, and it
will not look pretty. The kingdom of
heaven will still suffer violence.
But fear not! Though Satan rage,
though the world rebel, and though your own sinful flesh tell you to retreat or
surrender, the Lord Jesus has fought the battle and he has won. The Lord Jesus will still work his
reformation in you. Though you will feel
battle weary in the Church Militant, the Lord uses those struggles to purge you
of your sin, to drive you to your refuge, and to find comfort and hope in Jesus
Christ alone. Jesus is the only place
you will find comfort, hope, and salvation.
That is why he lets the world go on in rebellion. The world’s judgment is mounting up against
it. But you have your refuge in Jesus
Christ. There, you find forgiveness. There, you are delivered from death. There, your eternal life is certain. Jesus has given you ears to hear this, hearts
to believe it, and mouths to confess it.
So do not fear, though the whole world and all of hell break out in
violence. The kingdom of heaven cannot
be overthrown, and you cannot be snatch out of Jesus’ hand. You have an indestructible refuge. Your God is a mighty fortress. Though the kingdom of heaven suffers
violence, in Christ, you are safe.
In the name of the Father and of the Son +
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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