We have read very solemn passages in the last few weeks from Matthew 11. Here, the Lord Jesus shows that the people of that generation were born at a great time, being offered the Kingdom of God. It is a great offer and a great need for every person.
This section highlights the shocking responses of the people of Israel. In their blindness and worldly love, we saw the response of criticism, like children in the marketplace: they called John a demon-possessed man, and they called Jesus, who came eating and drinking, a “wine lover and glutton.” Then there was the terrible response of indifference from some cities despite seeing His mighty works. The Lord rebuked them with terrible judgment: “Woe to you, Chorazin, Bethsaida,” comparing their fate to Tyre and Sidon. He compared Capernaum’s judgment with Sodom’s, stating the judgment for these wicked cities would be more tolerable. We see the Lord very angry here. These are the wrong responses: criticism and indifference to the command of the gospel.
Now we consider ourselves: the Kingdom is offered to us. How do we seize it? What is our response to the call of the gospel? We saw the right response: if we understand the glory of the Kingdom and our perishing need to enter it, we would repent of our ways and turn and grab it with violence. This is stated in Matthew 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.”
Today, instead of just going forward in expository teaching, I want to stop and spend some time on how and why we should violently seize the Kingdom. The Lord rebuked those cities; what would Christ say about our reaction? Do we have the right response?
I want to focus on one truth: THE ONLY WAY TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS VIOLENTLY. YOU CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD IF YOU DON’T ENTER VIOLENTLY. We cannot enter the Kingdom of God without this violence. This is seen in the parallel passage in Luke 13:23-24:
Luke 13:23-24: “Someone asked him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Make every effort/strive to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.’“
The Greek word for “strive” signifies to “agonize”—to put violent efforts to enter, or you will not enter. Only through violence is it possible to enter the Kingdom of God; that is the right response.
In what ways and to what should we offer violence? He must offer violence to: 1. To Self, 2. To the World, 3. To Satan.
The Christian Must Offer Violence to HIMSELF
This self-violence consists in two things:
- Mortification of sin.
- Provocation to spiritual duties.
We have to understand what we are made of. As I was talking in the prayer meeting last week, the Bible describes an internal conflict:
Galatians 5:16-17: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
Romans 7:15: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
Why am I like this? The flesh (our sinful, fallen nature, indwelling sin) is lusting against the Spirit (the Spirit’s work within us). There is a constant conflict in every child of God regarding spiritual things. If there is no such conflict, you are not a born-again Christian.
This conflict reveals itself in two ways:
A. The Flesh HINDERS Spiritual Duties
The flesh resists us when doing spiritual activities. We must recognize this. The more pure the spiritual activity is, the more violent the resistance of the flesh. When you watch TV, play sports, or attend social events, there is no such spiritual conflict. But when you go home and take the Bible to pray, the conflict starts.
Notice it comes very subtly, not as hatred for Bible reading, but as an excuse: “Oh, I am tired; too much work; I will read and pray tomorrow.” The more spiritual the activity, the more violent the conflict of the flesh.
How does this conflict operate?
1. Operates through Physical Weariness: This is seen in Gethsemane, where the Lord told His disciples, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Our physical body is affected by sin, and there is a close agreement between our spiritual flesh (sinful nature) and our physical body, which together stand against spiritual growth. This is why a true believer longs to be rid of the body (2 Corinthians).
For example, you come home after a long day and want to read the Bible for 15 minutes. The suggestion comes: “Oh, so tired, worked so long, let us relax for some time.” But if you switch to a mobile or TV, the mind becomes very alert, and there is no weariness for over an hour. This is the subtlety of our physical body and flesh working together. This indicates a deep-seated indisposition/hatred of the flesh to all spiritual activity within us—reluctance, unwillingness, aversion. Unless you recognize this and violently oppose it, you will be defeated again and again, unable to grow in grace and be the blessed man of Psalm 1.
2. Operates by Reminding us of Worldly Responsibility: The flesh wars against the Spirit when you fix your mind on God’s Word by immediately reminding you of all your worldly things/duties. “No, I have to complete this work and that work; so much to do today. If I sit and meditate, things will not fall from heaven. Let me finish those things, and then I will sit and meditate.”
3. Operates by Giving Promises of a Convenient Time: The flesh shows itself by promising more diligence at a more convenient time. This is how Felix said to Paul: “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” He acknowledged the importance of righteousness, self-control, and judgment, but claimed he had more important things now. That “convenient season” never came.
This is how the flesh deceives us: “I get up early morning; I should take a few minutes for God’s Word. Oh, but so many things to do. When these duties are done and I have free time, I will sit and meditate.” But in the evening, the flesh says, “You are so tired; relax.” This is how life runs, day after day, year after year, leading to no growth, repeated falling into sin, and being filled with worldly worries.
All these are manifestations of the principle that the flesh lusts against the Spirit. The flesh is a bosom traitor, a sly enemy that kills by embracing. The flesh inclines us to believe a temptation more than a promise. We must, therefore, offer violence first of all to ourselves.
B. How to Deal with the Deceitful Flesh
How can we overcome these hindrances and become a blessed person?
1. Recognize Them for What They Are: Deceitful Lusts. As long as you are deceived into considering these manifestations (tiredness, urgency of worldly duty, promise of a later time) as legitimate reasons, you are undone. You must deal with them mercilessly and violently. If you are convinced that a salesman has come to sell a fraud scheme, you will do everything to chase him away and not let him through the gate. Similarly, if you allow these lustings to be legitimate, you will be deceived all your life. They are intent only on smothering and killing the life of God within us. The Bible calls them “deceitful lusts of the flesh” (Ephesians 4:22).
Galatians 6:7-8: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Recognize and wake up, or this fleshly lusting will deceive you all your life and take you to hell.
2. Combat Them with Scriptural Weapons and Perspective. What does the Bible tell us to do with the lusts of the flesh?
- Abstain and Wage War:
1 Peter 2:11: “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
The fleshly lusts are at war against your soul, intent on its eternal ruin. A “deceitful lust” is a desire that lies to you, saying, “If you listen to it and lust and sin, you’d be happier and satisfied.” That’s a lie. It brings only shame, guilt, and disappointment, and God’s punishment.
- Set Your Mind on Heavenly Joys: God has called us for great spiritual joy and delights far beyond the cheap, nauseating joy of the flesh.
Colossians 3:1-2: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
When you taste these indescribable spiritual joys, the fleshly lusts will become nauseating.
- Kill Them—Mortification: The Bible uses the strongest language when dealing with the flesh: kill it.
Colossians 3:5: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you.”
If you see that enemy, you must immediately kill him. As John Owen said, “If you do not kill them, they will kill you.”
We continue our study on the right response to the Kingdom of God—violence. We saw that this violence is necessary because there is a severe internal conflict in every believer: “the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh” (Galatians 5:17). We must offer violence to ourselves in two ways: mortification of sin and provocation to spiritual duties.
1. Violence in Mortification (Putting Sin to Death)
The command in Colossians 3:5 is uncompromising: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality… evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
Notice the list. Sexual sins are first because nothing kills the spiritual joys of the resurrected Christ like them. This “gutter water” numbs our tongue to spiritual delights. Sexual sins cause the soul to dive to the bottom, wallowing in the mire of brief physical sensations instead of soaring to the true, lasting joy Christ offers.
The command is to “mortify” and “kill sin at the root,” meaning we must not only avoid the acts of sin but kill the beginning of such lusts. The twin “king lusts” of mankind are sexual sin and covetousness (which is idolatry). Killing them requires much violence:
- Withdraw the Fuel: Avoid all temptations. He who would control cholesterol avoids fat; he who would kill lust must avoid all occasions of temptation. Pray that you may not be led into temptation (Matthew 6:13).
- Fight with Spiritual Weapons: Combat fleshly lusts upon your knees with faith and prayer. Run to the promise (Romans 6:14, “Sin shall not have dominion over you”). Beg strength from Christ. Our strength lies in our Head, Christ (Philippians 4:13).
2. Violence in Provocation to Spiritual Duties
The flesh constantly hinders us from growing in grace by making us lazy and bringing up excuses like “tiredness” and “other duties.” We need to violently stir ourselves for duty against these lies.
Combatting Physical Weariness
When the body says, “I’m too tired; let me relax,” we must combat it with the perspective of a soldier and an athlete.
- The Soldier’s Endurance (2 Timothy 2:1, 3): You must “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” and “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” A good soldier, tired in battle, doesn’t use his helmet as a pillow and sleep; he remains alert, knowing great things are at stake. Christ told His disciples in Gethsemane to “Watch and pray”—rise and stir yourself; don’t let your body control you.
- The Athlete’s Discipline (1 Corinthians 9:25, 27): Everyone who competes for a perishable crown “is temperate in all things.” Paul says, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” We are running a race impacting eternity, which demands more than an Olympic runner’s discipline. We must “disciple your body” and “buffet” it until it is under the soul’s subjection. The spirit should dictate; the body must obey. We cannot grow spiritually unless we learn to control the body for the soul’s benefit.
Combatting the Excuse of Other Duties
When you sit to pray or meditate, the flesh brings to mind a flood of necessary tasks, saying, “You have too much work; things won’t fall from heaven.”
- The One Thing Needful (Luke 10:38-42): This is dealt with by bringing all duties into the proper perspective of the “one thing is needful.” Martha was distracted by serving, while Mary was “listening and cherishing the words of Jesus.” We must have the perspective that even if our duties (pastoral, personal, family) are legitimate, they must not displace sitting at Christ’s feet. If you have a heart attack or die, the world will not stop.
- The Promise of Added Things: When we “seek first the kingdom,” it is amazing how God fulfills the other things for us. When we take enough time to meditate, we go forth with God’s strength, enabling us to fulfill our other duties more successfully, as promised in Psalm 1:3: “he does prospers.” We must subordinate the legitimate, but non-essential, duties to the one great duty.
Combatting Procrastination
The excuse of “more convenient time” is countered by the command to use the present moment. Scripture says, “now is the acceptable time.” We have no promise of the future. If the Holy Spirit has stirred you to fix your mind on God’s Word, you must capture that moment and make it useful.
The Necessity of Spiritual Violence:
- Reading/Meditation: We must provoke ourselves to read the Word, using it as a soul-enriching treasury and a weapon against sin and Satan (“It is written!”). Meditation is cross to flesh and blood, but it quickens affections and has a transforming power (Psalm 119:59, “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes”).
- Prayer: This is a duty that keeps the trade of piety flowing. Prayer is called wrestling (Genesis 32:24) and implies vehemency. Heartless or distracted prayer is no prayer. The zeal and violence of the affections in prayer best suit God’s nature. Prayer without fervency will never awaken God or gain the mercies we desperately need. “Knock, and it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7).
The Christian Must Offer Violence to the World
The world opposes us with both its pleasures and its worries. Mark 4:19 says the “cares of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
1. The World’s Pleasures and Riches
The world presents its golden apple—the deceitfulness of riches. Riches are intoxicating and often send up fumes of pride. The world is a flattering enemy and a snare.
- The Command: We must offer violence to the world. We are called out of the world (“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it,” John 17:16). We must swim against the stream, like a living fish, or we will be carried down into the dead sea of hell.
- The Perspective:
- The world is DECEITFUL. It promises happiness but gives disappointment. It promises to satisfy but only increases desires. It gives poisoned pills wrapped in sugar.
- The world is PERISHING. “The world and its desires pass away” (1 John 2:17). It is like a flower that withers as we smell it.
2. The Christian Must Offer Violence to Satan
Satan opposes us by open violence (the Red Dragon) and secret treachery (the Old Serpent).
- Violence: Satan is a lion (1 Peter 5:8, “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”) who uses “fiery darts” (Ephesians 6:16) to stir up passion and lust.
- Treachery (Subtlety): What he cannot do by force, he does by fraud.
- Suits Temptations: He studies our constitution and lays suitable baits (lust for the youthful, covetousness for the ambitious).
- Tempts Gradually: He loosens the root by degrees. To Eve, he didn’t say, “Eat the apple!” but put forth a subtle question: “Has God said?” He is first a fox, then a lion.
- Tempts to Evil in Lawful Things: He draws us to immoderate love of a good thing (like work or food) and makes us sin through excess.
- Combating Satan by Faith: We must “Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9). Faith is an intelligent grace that can see the hook under the bait. Faith is the “shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one!” (Ephesians 6:16). Faith keeps the heart’s castle, enters its protest against Satan, and beats back the temptation by holding the promise in one hand and Christ in the other.
Conclusion: Violence is the Only Way
The flesh, the world, and Satan are soul enemies whose sole job is to hinder us from seizing the Kingdom of God. If we are to enter and grow in the Kingdom, we must show violence to them.
Many Christians wrongly imagine there is a pleasant, easy way to Heaven—a spiritual train ride where they can sleep their way to the destination. But the text tells us only those who are violent can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Worldly things aren’t obtained without labor; how can Heaven be?
Yes, grace alone saves us, but we must use the means of grace and “strive to enter by the narrow gate.” The promises are made to encourage faith, not to nourish sloth. The commands to “fight the good fight of faith” and “work out your salvation in fear and trembling” are not in vain. As a boat cannot get to shore without rowing, we cannot get to Heaven without offering violence.
May God make us such violent men who take the Kingdom by force.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 