Matthew 11:7-12

Rachel Workman: 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,

‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    and he will prepare your way before you.’[c]

11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! 12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing,[d] and violent people are attacking it. I love verse 11, no greater man lived than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom is greater than he is. Verse 12 seems a little confusing but I take it to mean Jesus is going to forcefully advance heaven against the evil that rules this earth. His presence will be known on this earth. Violent people or evil will always resist the advancement of Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross for us. That's going to happen until this earth is no more.

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John Burnett:  ⁷ As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ^8 [a]But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ ^[b]palaces! ^9 [c]But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it ^[d]is written,

‘Behold, I send My messenger ^[e]ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

¹¹ Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is ^[f]least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven ^[g]suffers violence, and violent men ^[h]take it by force.  Verse 11 is the highest praise Jesus ever gave to anyone as no one is worthy, no not one.  Verse 12 will require me to do more study than I have time for right now.

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Allen Michaels:  ⁷ As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. No man ever fulfilled his God-given purpose better than John. Yet in God’s coming kingdom all members will have a greater spiritual heritage than John because they will have seen and known Christ and his finished work on the cross. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. There are three common views about the meaning of this verse. (1) Jesus may have been referring to a vast movement toward God, the momentum that began with John’s preaching. (2) He may have been reflecting the Jewish activities’ expectation that God’s kingdom would come through a violent overthrow of Rome. (3) Or he may have meant that entering God’s kingdom takes courage, unwavering faith, determination, and endurance because of the growing opposition leveled at Jesus’ followers.