Matthew 11:7-15

"And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? (8) But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. (9) But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. (10) For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (11) Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (13) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. (14) And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. (15) He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

The last words in this passage of our Lord's discourse, implies somewhat contained in it which requires deep attention. In this view I conceive the 10th verse to be the most weighty. If the Reader will turn to the Scripture which the Lord Jesus quotes from his servant, the Prophet Malachi, (Malachi 3:1 .) he will discover a very striking difference in the manner in which Jesus useth the words; from what, they are there. In the words of the Prophet, it is Jehovah the Lord of Hosts speaking to the Church concerning John.

He shall prepare the way before me. But here, as the Lord of his temple, Christ is spoken to on the same subject; and now the words are, behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. What a decisive proof of the Oneness in the divine nature, in the me and thee; Jehovah's way, and Christ the Mediator's way is one and the same. And what can be more full in point to the Godhead of Christ? And hence it must undeniably follow, that the way of both, being one and the same; He, who is the Lord of his temple, and the Angel of the covenant, is One, with the other Persons of Jehovah, in nature, in essence, in way, will, and work; in property, honor, and worship; and in all the divine attributes, perfections, and glory! Hail! thou Almighty Jesus, whom all thy people delight in! Oh! for ears to hear what the Spirit saith concerning time to the Churches! See Matthew 3:0 and Commentary throughout.

If I detain the Reader a moment longer on this discourse of Jesus, it shall only be to make a short observation on that passage in it, in which the Lord speaks of the kingdom of heaven suffering violence, and the violent taking it by force. There can be no doubt concerning what is meant by the kingdom of heaven for the whole tenor of scripture refers this to the kingdom of grace upon all occasions, when speaking of the things of this life. But the violence this kingdom is said to suffer, and the being taken by three, these are terms not so clearly to be understood. The whole tide of Commentators, as hr as I have seen, are all running in one, and the same opinion, that the words have reference to John's preaching, and the effects wrought upon the minds of the multitude thereby which flocked to his baptism. But I am free to confess, none of them satisfy my mind upon this subject. John's preaching of repentance can hardly be supposed to imply a violence done to Christ's kingdom, neither did it produce such an holy earnestness as might carry the expression of the violent taking it by force. See the parallel passage. Luke 16:16 , I do not presume to speak decidedly on this, or any other portion of the word of God, which may be considered in the least of doubtful meaning; but I am rather inclined to think, the violence Christ's kingdom is said to have sustained by John's preaching, refers more to the opposition made against it by the powers of darkness, than to the conciliating the minds of men to it by his outward ministry. John's chief scope of preaching was, as the herald of Christ, to testify of his approach, and that now it was very hear. The hellish malice of the enemy is thereby the more excited, in proportion as Satan knew his kingdom was now tottering in the centre. See Malachi 4:1 . And as John called the great mass of Pharisees and Sadducees, which came to his baptism, a generation of Vipers, (See the Commentary on Matthew 3:7 .) it might be said the kingdom suffered violence from them, but cannot be conceived, !that these were among the violent said to take the kingdom by force. But I leave the Reader to his own thoughts on the passage, under divine teaching, without adding aught more upon it.