Did John the Baptist Preach Violence?

Updated: Jun 27

Matt 11:12 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.

*From the time of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven has endured hostile cruelty & violent men try to destroy it.

*Because this time has been prophesied until John began to prepare the way for me

*If you will believe - John is that Elias that was prophesied about.

suffer – endure, experience

violent – aggressive, cruel, brutal

violence – hostility, cruelty, bloodshed

take – conquer, seize, eliminate

*Did John preach violence? He preached repentance (to feel regret & change your actions).

Matt 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

> 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (recognize that you are a sinner, & regret your sins)

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet (suitable) for repentance: (your lives must prove your change of heart)

*Does this sound like you must use force to enter the kingdom?

*Here the verb refers to violence inflicted on the kingdom of heaven, which Jesus condemns (take by force, (harpazo), normally means 'plunder or 'seize'

*John the Baptist was thrown into prison & beheaded for his preaching >

Matt 14:10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. > (specifically, for calling Herod Antipas out on his sin) > Mt. 14:3-4, Mk. 6:17-18, Lu. 3:19-20

* Jesus is saying that ever since the days of John the Baptist the kingdom of heaven has been under assault by violent men who are trying to overcome it by force. Like Herod, who imprisoned John, and the Jewish antagonists of the gospel.

* 'The Greek is sometimes difficult to interpret. As rendered, it means that violent ones (demons and their human vehicles) are trying to keep God from carrying out his plan through Yeshua (Jesus)

*Did Jesus preach violence?

Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for th

e kingdom of heaven is at hand.

*Suffering violence for the kingdom’s sake:

Luke 4:16-30 – Jesus preaches from Is. 61:1-3... “The Spirit of the Lord is upon ME...He hath sent Me... This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” >

28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Mark 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

Matt 26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

They tried to put a stop to the gospel being proclaimed, & thought that they had ended it on the cross, but Jesus rose victorious! The church however, would suffer this same violence; James was killed with the sword, Stephen was stoned to death, Paul & Silas were beaten & thrown in prison, Peter was thrown in prison >*

Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison

(Paul & Silas) Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Matt 23:33- Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

Fullfilled > (Acts 4:1-21, Acts 5:18, Acts 16:23-24)

*How we obtain the kingdom of God: First, by obedience to the plan of salvation >

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

*Without righteousness, we cannot enter >

Matt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 10:17...Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?...

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

*John came preparing the way for Christ, preaching that men should repent & ready themselves for the power of the everlasting kingdom that was to come >

Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Then Jesus himself was baptized by John (Mt. 3:13-17) in compliance to the Word. (As an example to all men that baptism is essential... to have witness of the Holy Ghost that he was the Son of God* (Mt.3:16) & because he was made “sin for us, who knew no sin.” (2 Cor.5:21)

Then Jesus began to preach the kingdom message & to reveal the kingdom – by love & mercy...healings & miracles, not in any way teaching violence or aggressiveness, but rather teaching that we must repent, obeying the plan of salvation & walk in love. To teach otherwise takes the scripture (Mt. 11:12) out of context & contradicts the very nature of Christ.*

We are to do justly, love mercy, & walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)

*To enter the Kingdom of God, we must have a repentant heart, & obey His doctrine of salvation (Mt. 28:19 / Acts 2:38).

*Repentance & obedience does not agree with violence! We do not ‘take’ anything that Christ has promised by force!

*No power can destroy the Kingdom of God...it is a never ending kingdom & His power & authority prevails forever.

Ps 145:13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

Dan 7:14...his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Did John the Baptist Preach Violence?​

Matt 11:12 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.

*From the time of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven has endured hostile cruelty & violent men try to destroy it.

*Because this time has been prophesied until John began to prepare the way for me

*If you will believe - John is that Elias that was prophesied about.

suffer – endure, experience

violent – aggressive, cruel, brutal

violence – hostility, cruelty, bloodshed

take – conquer, seize, eliminate

*Did John preach violence? He preached repentance (to feel regret & change your actions).

Matt 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

> 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (recognize that you are a sinner, & regret your sins)

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet (suitable) for repentance: (your lives must prove your change of heart)

*Does this sound like you must use force to enter the kingdom?

*Here the verb refers to violence inflicted on the kingdom of heaven, which Jesus condemns (take by force, (harpazo), normally means 'plunder or 'seize'

*John the Baptist was thrown into prison & beheaded for his preaching >

Matt 14:10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. > (specifically, for calling Herod Antipas out on his sin) > Mt. 14:3-4, Mk. 6:17-18, Lu. 3:19-20

* Jesus is saying that ever since the days of John the Baptist the kingdom of heaven has been under assault by violent men who are trying to overcome it by force. Like Herod, who imprisoned John, and the Jewish antagonists of the gospel.

* 'The Greek is sometimes difficult to interpret. As rendered, it means that violent ones (demons and their human vehicles) are trying to keep God from carrying out his plan through Yeshua (Jesus)

​

*Did Jesus preach violence?

Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for th

e kingdom of heaven is at hand.

*Suffering violence for the kingdom’s sake:

Luke 4:16-30 – Jesus preaches from Is. 61:1-3... “The Spirit of the Lord is upon ME...He hath sent Me... This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” >

28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Mark 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

Matt 26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison

(Paul & Silas) Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Matt 23:33- Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

Fullfilled > (Acts 4:1-21, Acts 5:18, Acts 16:23-24)

*How we obtain the kingdom of God: First, by obedience to the plan of salvation >

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

*Without righteousness, we cannot enter >

Matt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 10:17...Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?...

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

*John came preparing the way for Christ, preaching that men should repent & ready themselves for the power of the everlasting kingdom that was to come >

Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

*Then Jesus himself was baptized by John (Mt. 3:13-17) in compliance to the Word. (As an example to all men that baptism is essential... to have witness of the Holy Ghost that he was the Son of God (Mt.3:16) & because he was made “sin for us, who knew no sin.” (2 Cor.5:21)

We are to do justly, love mercy, & walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)

*To enter the Kingdom of God, we must have a repentant heart, & obey His doctrine of salvation (Mt. 28:19 / Acts 2:38).

*Repentance & obedience does not agree with violence! We do not ‘take’ anything that Christ has promised by force!

*No power can destroy the Kingdom of God...it is a never ending kingdom & His power & authority prevails forever.

Ps 145:13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

Dan 7:14...his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

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Did John the Baptist Preach Violence?

Then Jesus himself was baptized by John (Mt. 3:13-17) in compliance to the Word. (As an example to all men that baptism is essential... to have witness of the Holy Ghost that he was the Son of God* (Mt.3:16) & because he was made “sin for us, who knew no sin.” (2 Cor.5:21)