Does this Portion of Scripture Contain any Questions that I Should Ask?
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
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.
I have bolded and highlighted a portion of the passage above.
This question can be taken one of two ways:
1) Is there an actual question in this passage that I should ask to myself or others?
2) Does this passage contain something that I don't understand and I should ask for help from others to understand it. (Asking of others should begin by praying to God to enlighten you to its meaning.)
I see a couple of questions that I might ask.
1) How are the words "from the days of John the Baptist until now" significant?
2) What is meant by the kingdom of heaven?
3) Does "the kingdom of heaven" and "the kingdom of God" mean the same thing?
4) What does it mean that the kingdom of heaven "suffers violence and the violent take it forcefully"?
I have my own ideas about the questions I have posed above, but I am not providing my answers here on purpose.
Search it out among yourselves.
Does this Portion of Scripture Contain any Questions that I Should Ask?
