Matthew 11:12-19 Thy Kingdom Come

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

John the Baptist was the last Old Testament prophet. Unlike the prophets before him, he did not come proclaiming the Law of Moses, but instead spoke of the grace of God through his son Jesus Christ. This was not a message that was well received by the zealots of the law. For this reason, John became the first of those persecuted for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That tension has not ended yet and will not end until we see the return of Christ Jesus to set up his kingdom when all knees will bow and proclaim the rightful king.

Daily Prayer: Father, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. So come Lord Jesus, we anxiously await our blessed hope. In Jesus name and for his sake I pray Amen.