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Matthew 11: 11-15 | King James Audio Bible KJV | Daily Bible Verses | Advent | Week 2 Thursday
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
In today’s verses, Jesus pays tribute to John the Baptist, telling the crowds that John the Baptist, until the dawn of the New Testament, the arrival of the Kingdom of God, was the greatest of people. John the Baptist was a courageous, inspirational figure and had the honour of proclaiming Christ’s presence, then he looked on satisfied as his disciples went from him to follow Christ: ‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’
It is Christ who has brought to us the saving gift of grace. Those who repent of their sins and accept the grace of God enter into the Kingdom of heaven, becoming greater than those who went before could have imagined. John too, as Christ’s redemptive mission extends backwards through time, will be elevated to become a son of God.
The Kingdom of heaven has, though, suffered violence since Christ came into the world. The forces of evil are ranged against it, working with renewed vigour in their assault on the good. We are aware of the violence against Christ in his lifetime, of the persecution of Christians in times to come, and of the temptations to sin we encounter.
We in turn respond to the powers of hell with violence of our own, fighting the enemies of our souls to attain to heaven.
‘This violence is not directed against others. It is a violence used to fight your own weaknesses and miseries, a fortitude, which prevents you from camouflaging your own infidelities, a boldness to own up to the faith even when the environment is hostile.’ St Josemaria Escriva
Concluding Prayer | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
Clear a pathway, Lord, in our hearts
to make ready for your only Son,
so that when he comes
we may serve you in sincerity of heart.
We make our prayer through our Lord.
King James Audio Bible | Endnotes
John the Baptist was a man of great faith and devotion to God. He lived in the wilderness of Judea and preached repentance to all who would listen, baptizing those who sought to turn away from sin and towards a closer relationship with our Lord. As the scripture tells us: ‘In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Matthew 3:1-2)
And there is Jesus, Son of God, our Savior, our Christianity. Jesus of Nazareth lived a life of love, service, and teaching, performing healing miracles that forgave sin and testified to his divine nature. As the angel announced to the shepherds: ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’ (Luke 2:10-11)
Baptism, an ancient ritual introduced to Christianity through John the Baptist, is a sacrament in our faith that symbolizes purification and renewal. Through the pouring of water, we are baptized into a new life in Christ and are made anew. And as John testified: ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.’ (John 1:32-33)
In his teachings, Jesus proclaimed: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ (John 14:6) This reminds that he is the path to salvation and eternal life. And through the centuries, Christians have sought solace and guidance through the simple prayer known as the ‘Jesus Prayer’: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
Finally, let us remember the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray before his arrest and crucifixion. This sacred site serves as a reminder of his unwavering faith in the face of suffering and sacrifice. As it is written: ‘And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ (Matthew 26:39)
May these words and the memories they evoke serve to strengthen our faith and our commitment to following the path laid out for us by John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Amen.
Many of the Jews of Christ’s time, including the disciples of John the Baptist, followed complicated rituals of fasting and purification, elaborated to the point where they could obscure genuine piety. It is noted that the followers of Christ do not follow such rituals. This must have seemed particularly strange to the followers of John. After all, John foretold Christ’s coming and saw that he was the Messiah as he began his ministry. Later, John’s uncertainty is such that he will send from prison to ask Christ if he is indeed the one who is to come. The reality of Christ present and the manner of his ministry must have been confusing and troubling to the Jews [ … ]
The sermon begins with a triumphant proclamation: ‘Christ is risen! He has burst open the gates of hell and let the dead go free.’ This dramatic image immediately places the Resurrection within the context of the Harrowing of Hell, a traditional doctrine in early Christianity that sees Christ descending into the realm of the dead to liberate the righteous. The Resurrection is not limited to the physical body of Jesus—it triggers a universal release and upward movement: the dead rise, the Church is renewed through baptism, and the doors of heaven are opened [ … ]
In Jerusalem, Jesus teaches in the Temple and is tested by the Sadducees and the Pharisees. These are tests concerning Scripture, concerning the Law, and concerning Jesus’ identity, i.e. concerning Jesus being God the Son. Jesus’ response to the tests flows from two sources especially: from Jesus’ perfect knowledge of Scripture, and from Jesus’ true identity as God the Son incarnate. Ultimately, Jesus’ knowledge of Scripture, and freedom perfectly to interpret Scripture, flows from his true identity as God the Son [ … ]
