Heaven Has Suffered Violence
Over the years, I have heard many different explanations of this passage. So diverse, it is tough to really tell which one is the traditional interpretation. One common theme is that this is somehow a departure from Judaism to the new revelation, Christianity.
A few years ago, I had an amazing find on eBay, a favorite place of mine to find used and out of print books. Scrolling through the books and seforim, I stumbled across a rare english translated collection of a particular set of Galilean midrash for only $20!
Ever since, this book has not ceased providing me with deeper insight into the minds of the ancient Galilean communities. We can gain a glimpse at their piety, worldview, and even some of the nuanced language and metaphors they used.
We'll look at one example that helps make sense of a strange passage in the Gospels.
In Matthew we read:
This is the one about whom it is written: “‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is! From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come. The one who has ears had better listen! - Matthew 11:10-15
Over the years, I have heard many different explanations of this passage. So diverse, it is tough to really tell which one is the traditional interpretation. One common theme is that this is somehow a departure from Judaism to the new revelation, Christianity. Aside from this being anachronistic, we'll see why this also misses the main point of the message.
The Breaker
First, this entire teaching is somehow pivoting on John [aka, John the Baptist]. Yeshua compares him to Elijah, who goes ahead of Messiah to prepare the way for the Kingdom. This idea is connected to a passage in Micah.
“I will certainly gather all of you, O Jacob, I will certainly assemble those Israelites who remain. I will bring them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in the middle of a pasture; they will be so numerous that they will make a lot of noise.
The one who makes a breach will lead them out; they enlarge it to a gate and leave by it. Their king marches before them; the Lord will lead them.” - Micah 2:12-13
Rashi, giving us insight on this tradition, tells us that the breaker is someone who makes wider an opening, allowing more sheep to pass through.
The breaker has gone up:
Their savior, who breaks the fences of thorns and the hedges of briers, to straighten the road before them. - Rashi commentary on Micah 2:12
This theme will be important to understand.
