Biblical Text: Matthew 11:12-19

Sometimes the word cloud spits out something interesting – like above, the juxtaposition of preach and violence. It is obvious or should be that the intent is not to “preach violence” yet that is so often what eventually happens where the Word of God is preached. That’s kinda what Jesus’ lament in the text is about. The Kingdom of Heaven in this time of grace comes by preaching. It comes by speaking the word of the law which is like a dirge that lets us know we are dead in our sins. It comes by speaking the word of the gospel which is like the flute that lets us know we are at the wedding feast. The great mass respond to neither. But the preaching is for those who have ears. The preaching is not for the world in general. And if you think that you are just arguing about how to build a worldly kingdom – by winsomeness or power. But that is not the gospel nor the heart of the Reformation. That is the preaching of Christ. And in this time of grace, in order to preach the good news, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence. It is not a loser theology. It is just a recognition of which Kingdom we are in.

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