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“Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.” Matthew 11:11–12

The two sentences in the passage above can be challenging to comprehend, but the insights of Church Fathers and saints offer us a deeper understanding.

In the first sentence, Jesus declares John the Baptist to be the greatest of those born of women, highlighting John as the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. However, John did not live to see the fullness of Christ’s work—His death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This is why Jesus adds, “yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” In other words, even the smallest person who receives sanctifying grace through Christ’s redemptive work is greater in spiritual privilege than the greatest person before the era of grace.

The second sentence may be even more puzzling. How can the Kingdom of Heaven suffer violence, and who are the violent ones taking it by force? The Greek words translated as “violence” and “violent” can also be understood as “forcefully advancing” and those who “advance with force and determination.” Jesus is teaching that entering the Kingdom of God requires great determination, a forceful rejection of sin, and a vigorous pursuit of holiness.

Together, these sentences reveal Jesus’ message about the incredible blessing of living in the time of grace. We are more privileged than even John the Baptist because we live in the fullness of the Christian dispensation. However, this privilege comes with a responsibility: we must engage in a “violent” battle against our fallen nature, the temptations of the world, and the deceptions of the devil. Entering the Kingdom of God requires zeal, determination, and an all-consuming passion for the things of God.

It’s easy to fall into a mediocre practice of our Christian faith, letting our disordered desires and emotions dictate our actions. But Jesus calls us to something greater. Those who understand the Christian life as a spiritual battle against sin will be prepared to move beyond mediocrity into a fervent, committed embrace of God’s grace, becoming fuller participants in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Reflect today on how actively you are receiving and cooperating with God’s grace. Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone, repent of every sin, and passionately choose to follow Christ? Though this path requires great sacrifice, the reward of the Kingdom of Heaven is worth it a hundredfold.

My most glorious Lord, the gift of Your grace is all I need to achieve the greatness to which You call me. Please pour forth that grace in abundance, and help me to respond to Your invitation to repent of my sin so that I may become a more active member of Your glorious Kingdom of Heaven on Earth and ultimately in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.

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