Verse 12
And from the days of John the Baptist till now, the kingdom of heaven is forcing its way in, and men of force take it.
Referenced Verses
- Luke 16:16 : 16 The law and the prophets were till John: but then came the preaching of the kingdom of God, and everyone makes his way into it by force.
- Luke 13:24 : 24 Do your best to go in by the narrow door, for I say to you, A number will make the attempt to go in, but will not be able to do so.
- Phil 2:12 : 12 So then, my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you, give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts;
- John 6:27 : 27 Let your work not be for the food which comes to an end, but for the food which goes on for eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you, for on him has God the Father put his mark.
- Eph 6:11-13 : 11 Take up God's instruments of war, so that you may be able to keep your position against all the deceits of the Evil One. 12 For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world-rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up all the arms of God, so that you may be able to be strong in the evil day, and, having done all, to keep your place.
- Matt 21:23-32 : 23 And when he had come into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching, and said, By what authority do you do these things? and who gave you this authority? 24 And Jesus said to them in answer, I will put one question to you, and if you give me the answer, I will say by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, where did it come from? from heaven or from men? And they were reasoning among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did you not have faith in him? 26 But if we say, From men; we are in fear of the people, because all take John to be a prophet. 27 And they made answer and said, We have no idea. Then he said to them, And I will not say to you by what authority I do these things. 28 But how does it seem to you? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go and do work today in the vine-garden. 29 And he said in answer, I will not: but later, changing his decision, he went. 30 And he came to the second and said the same. And he made answer and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Which of the two did his father's pleasure? They say, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that tax-farmers and loose women are going into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you had no faith in him, but the tax-farmers and the loose women had faith in him: and you, when you saw it, did not even have regret for your sins, so as to have faith in him.
- Luke 7:29-30 : 29 (And all the people, and the tax-farmers, to whom John had given baptism, when they had knowledge of these things, gave glory to God. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were against the purpose of God for themselves, not having had his baptism.)