PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 11:7-15
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than (John the Baptist).” (Matthew 11:11)
This paragraph makes more sense when read in light of Malachi 3-4.
There Malachi tells of a prophet who will come before he (the Lord) arrives.
That messenger will be like Elijah (Malachi 3:1, 4:5), the greatest of prophets.
He will prepare the way for the kingdom of God and the new covenant.
John is to be the transition between the old covenant (Law and Prophets) and the new.
The citizens of the new covenant kingdom will be greater than the old covenant prophets.
Not greater in worth, but greater in grace, for they will be purified and restored.
What does Jesus mean by the kingdom coming with “violence”?
This is also part of what Malachi predicts, a day of fire (Malachi 4:1-3).
Not actual fire, but the purifying fire of truth and judgment – how Jesus spoke.
His words burned those who rejected him, yet healed those who revered him (Malachi 4:2).
Through Jesus’s penetrating words, we are being refined and restored (Malachi 3:3-4).
As Jesus followers, we welcome Jesus’s refining words, knowing he is making us great!
How open am I to being refined by Jesus’s words; how is Jesus purifying me?
PRAYER
Lord, in order for there to be healing there needs to be convicting. May the fire of your words penetrate the shadows of my heart, and cause the “sun of righteousness to rise with healing” in me!
There is so much in this passage! Anything in the kingdom of heaven is greater than the greatest on earth. Another is the importance of John as the Elijah – the final prophet before Jesus. And then this statement:: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence” – Yes Jesus was being attacked and He will subject Himself to a violent death. Jesus as son of man suffers – he had to fight to stay true to the objective – to accomplish our salvation. Now I too must be ready to face the evil one and hardship and even the complacency of affluence – I must stay true to seek the kingdom of heaven first! That’s what Jesus did – that is what I as His follower must do!
John’s words did not stir the people’s hearts nor did the miracles of Christ. Their message was true. Just look at their deeds. They were fruitful bearing fruit nto the Lord changing hearts and changing lives. All too often our impression of the messenger gets in the way of the truthful message. Open my eyes Lord. Open my ears Lord. so I too will bear fruit unto You.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy