16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
Matthew renders this verse in the following way:
11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear. Matt 11:11-15 (NIV)
Of the above verses Matthew Henry states:
“This violence denotes a strength, and vigour, and earnestness of desire and endeavour, in those who followed John’s ministry. It shows us also, what fervency and zeal are required of all those who intend to gain heaven through their religion. They who would enter into the kingdom of heaven must strive to enter; that kingdom suffers a holy violence; we must run, and wrestle, and fight, and be in agony, and all little enough to win such a prize, and to get over such opposition from without and from within. Forceful men lay hold of it. They who will have an interest in the great salvation are carried out towards it with a strong desire, will have it on any terms, and not think them hard, nor release their hold without a blessing (Genesis 32:26). The kingdom of heaven was never intended to indulge the ease of triflers, but to be the rest of those who labour. Oh that we could see a greater number with a holy contention thrusting themselves into it!”
I am reminded of Jesus’ parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value found in Matthew:
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matt 13:44-46 (NIV)
Jesus Christ is our Treasure. He is our Pearl of great value! Paul’s words in Philippians echo these parables:
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Phil 3:7-9 (NIV)
This “Hebrew of Hebrew’s” had every right to boast in his past spiritual credentials. He states in the previous verses in Philippians of his birth-right privileges as an Israelite, of his relations to the covenant (circumcision), of his learning as a Pharisee, of his blameless conduct and of his zeal and his earnestness. Yet all of these wonderful fleshly confidences paled in comparison to knowing Jesus, his Lord. He would have considered himself an unspeakable loser if he had obtained all of this yet missed Christ.
“There is an abundant and transcendent greatness in the doctrine of Christ, above all the knowledge of nature, and improvements of human wisdom.” Matthew Henry
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us. We are far too easily pleased.” C.S. Lewis
“In lurid terms Matthew depicts the kingdom of God as ‘forcefully advancing.’ This advance entails the powerful works performed by Jesus and his dramatic gospel announcing the arrival of the long-awaited Messianic reign and demanding repentance and faith from all. In keeping with the violent character of its irruption into history, those who enter it are distinguished by that same dead earnestness and lay hold of it as a highly-desired prize. Entrance into the kingdom is no small matter; it is a life and death issue and is possible only by desperate and radically serious persons who desire it at all costs.” New Testament Lexical Aids Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible
"We must remember that God will never drag us along the path of true-hearted discipleship. This would greatly lack the moral excellency which characterizes all the ways of God. He does not drag, but draws us along the path which leads to ineffable blessedness in Himself; and if we do see that it is for our real advantage to break through all the barriers of nature, in order to respond to Gods’ call, we forsake our own mercies. But alas! our hearts little enter into this. We begin to calculate about the sacrifices, the hindrances, and the difficulties, instead of bounding along the path, in eagerness of soul, as knowing and loving the One whose call has sounded in our ears”. C H Macintosh, Notes on Deuteronomy