Anchor My Faith

In the Likeness of Elijah

Scripture: Matthew 11:12-15; Luke 16:16

In our previous lesson Jesus described John the Baptist as one who was greater than all born of woman. He was greater because he was uniquely privileged to prepare the way for the Messiah and his kingdom. In this lesson, Jesus compares John with Elijah. Jesus said: ^{Mt 11:12} “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied ^{Lk 16:16} and were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. ^{Mt 11:14} And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

There are verses in scripture that are not clear because of missing details. Verse in this lesson are an example in which we are not sure of their meaning. “The kingdom of heaven has suffered violence” probably indicates opposition from the religious establishment.” The phrase, “the violent take it by force,” probably refers to the actions of specific evil people like Herod Antipas, who had arrested John, but John didn’t say what he meant at the time he wrote the gospel. The meaning was probably clear to his readers at that time, but with the lack of detail, that meaning has been lost to us.

John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets, all of which prophesied the coming of Christ, the Messiah, but since the time of John, the good news of the kingdom of God has been preached. The ministry of John extended into the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. As John told his disciples, “I must decrease, and he must increase.”

We will finish this lesson on another difficult verse, which includes the statement of “Elijah who is to come.” In John 1:21 we read: “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” John the Baptist made it very clear that he was not Elijah. When Jesus said: “And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come,” he was probably implying in the likeness of Elijah.

When Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” we should take notice that what was said was important. John was an important figure and what he said about repentance and forgiveness and about Jesus is important and we should think about it and respond in obedience.

Prayer

Father, at times we come to difficult verses that are hard to understand. Often, we don’t understand because of lost detail. Help us not stumble over these but press on with those we do understand in obedience.