By Pastor Stefan Hedkvist
Pastor Hedkvist is pastor of St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church in Piteå in Sweden (https://www.bekannelse.se/pitea/). This article was originally published in Biblicum volume 74:1, 2010. Translated by Julius Buelow.
King Solomon authored many proverbs. Concerning proverbs, he says they give wisdom to the simply and knowledge and discretion to the young. That can be said of the whole Bible. The Bible gives knowledge to the young and to the simple. God’s Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. The Bible would not be a light for our feet if it were a dark and ambiguous book. It is straightforward and clear and people do not need a college degree or doctorate in order to understand it. We don’t have to waver in uncertainty about the message of the Bible. It teaches us what we should believe and what we should not believe, what we should do and what we should not do. The Bible is able to make us into complete, mature Christians.
At the same time, we have to admit that there are certain places in the Bible that are hard to understand. Saying the Bible is a light for our path does not mean that we will immediately understand all of its verses. Peter writes this about Paul’s letters: “There are some matters that are hard to understand in his letters, which the ignorant and unstable distort, as they also do with the other Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Pe 3:16, EHV). When we come upon a verse which is hard for us to understand, we should not use that difficult passage to twist the message of the Bible or come up with some new teaching. God has revealed his truths not just in one verse, but in several verses in the Bible. Most often, they are easy to understand, but sometimes the same teaching is conveyed with words that are harder to understand. The rule is that simple and clear verses should be used to cast light on verses which are harder to understand. But there are ignorant and duplicitous people who do just the opposite. They use verses that are hard to understand and twist simple and clear verses to their own ruin.
The Bible does not contain secret messages and its verses are not hiding a two-fold message, one on the surface and another deeper meaning. Each sentence has just one intended meaning. But sometimes we come upon verses where we are not able to decide if this particular verse refers to this or that Biblical teaching. This does not mean that the Bible is ambiguous. Each verse has just one meaning, but sometimes we can’t decide which one. Sometimes we can’t decide if the Apostle intended to write about this or that Biblical teaching—and either teaching is clearly expressed in simple words in other verses. This is called an “exegetical question.” In these cases, we learn to wait for an answer until we see things in the light of eternity. Until then, congregations will have to bear hearing different sermons over one and the same text.
These kinds of verses (where we can’t decide which teaching the Apostle is referring to) are rare, but we have just such a text in the lectionary. In the second year of the LBKs (the Lutheran Confessional Church of Sweden) lectionary on the 3rd Sunday of Advent we find two such cases despite the brevity of the sermon text itself.
Matthew 11:11-15
Amen I tell you: Among those born of women there has not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been advancing forcefully and forceful people are seizing it. In fact, all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. If you are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. (EHV)
Sermons on this text can touch on several different biblical teachings. Those preachers, however, do not become false teachers because of it. Their teaching is in harmony with what the Bible clearly teachings elsewhere. It just isn’t possible to decide with finality whether the apostle is pointing to one or another biblical teaching with this specific verse.
Who is the least?
1. The first exegetical question is if the least in the kingdom of heaven is referring to Jesus or to believers in the New Testament church. Jesus says, “Among those born of women there has not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Who, then, is the least in the kingdom of heaven who is greater than John?This can refer to Jesus. He can be called the least in the sense that he came to be the servant of all. The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. He became the servant of John and our servant, in order to be our Savior. Even so, he is greater than the greatest among those born of women. He is the King of Kings.
The least in the kingdom of heaven can also refer to us believers in the New Testament church. Jesus gave true honor to John the Baptist. John was the greatest among those who are born of women. He was greater than the prophets. His office is inseparably bound up with the office of the Christ. He was predicted by the prophets as the one who would immediately precede the LORD and prepare the way for him. Even so, he is a member of those who did not get to see the fulfillment of the promise. Just like the prophets and the heroes of faith in the time of the Old Testament, John longed to see what we see, but he did not get to see it; he longed to hear what we hear, but did not get to hear it. He was beheaded before Christ fulfilled salvation through his death and resurrection. In that sense, the least in the New Testament church is greater than John the Baptist. We have all been able to hear how Jesus accomplished everything the Father had promised. We have all been able to hear how Jesus atoned for all our sin with his blood and rose from the dead so that we will live with him. We can be called greater than John because the blessing God has given us, through Word and Sacrament, is greater than what he gave to John.
Either possible explanation gives great comfort and is in harmony with what the Bible says clearly and distinctly in other places. As to which of these spiritual truths Jesus was pointing to when he spoke the words here—we won’t know for sure this side of heaven.
The Kingdom of Heaven
2. The second exegetical question is if Jesus is talking about how the church is persecuted here on earth or how the church spreads throughout the earth. Is he talking about how the kingdom of heaven is subjected to violence or that the kingdom of heaven forcefully advances? Is he talking about how violent men oppress the kingdom of heaven or that people forcefully grab ahold of the kingdom of heaven for themselves? If you compare the many Swedish translations [and English translations] you will quickly see that they are divided. In the end, a translator has to make a decision before the manuscript hits the printing press, but the choice can be difficult. It is difficult to decide which of the two possibly biblical truths are in view here. But both of these truths are presented clearly and distinctly in other places in the Bible.
It is true that the church is subjected to violence here in the world. The church on earth is the church militant. Believers suffer persecution here in the world. But we can still take heart. Jesus has overcome the world. One day he will return triumphantly, and all believers together will see him. Through faith in him, we will win the victory. Therefore, we do not need to be afraid even if violent men oppress the church here in this world. They will not succeed in their aims. Not even hell can overcome the church. The Rock, Christ, is our fortress.
But this verse can also point to the forceful advance of the kingdom of heaven. Throughout the years, the gospel has spread out into the four corners of the earth and reached all the people of the world. People have grabbed ahold of the kingdom for themselves, that is, through the gospel the Holy Spirit has worked in people’s hearts and created the desire to have, or to be a part of, the kingdom of heaven. People of faith grab ahold of the promise of God’s grace. Even if the Lord seems to be distant and dismissive, faith holds fast to his promise and does not let itself be dismissed. Think of Jacob’s wrestling match with God. Even though the angel said to him, “Let me go!” Jacob refused to do so. He answered, “I will not let you go until you bless me!” Think also of the Canaanite woman who called to Jesus for help. He seemed to dismiss her: “It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table of their Lord.” Faith simply will not let itself be dismissed. In this sense, it can be said that believers barge rudely into heaven, as Jesus describes it; believers seize the kingdom of heaven for themselves.
Just One Intended Meaning
Each Bible verse has just one intended meaning. Jesus must have meant either one or the other of these Biblical truths, but we cannot with certainty determine which. This doesn’t need to trouble us. It does not make the Bible a dark book which is difficult to understand. These Biblical truths do not stand or fall with these verses. The truths are expressed clearly and distinctly in other places. We will stick with the simple verses. And we can calmly take to heart the comfort of one or the other explanation of the difficult verses, because these truths are expressed clearly and distinctly in other places in the Bible.
When we read further in the sermon text for the second year of the LBKs lectionary on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, we see that Jesus goes on to honor John the Baptist. John is the Elijah promised in the Old Testament. He would go before the LORD in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for him. Then Jesus says, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!” The expression, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear,” means that Jesus has just said something of utmost importance. It can only be received by those who have had their ears opened by the Holy Spirit. What he said holds extreme weight for faith and for spiritual life. But now one of you might want to throw up your hands and say, “How can we listen like this if we can’t say with certainty which Biblical teaching these verses are pointing to?”
Whoever Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear the Main Point
The expression, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear” does not just refer to the verses that are difficult to understand. These words point to all that Jesus has said in the whole context. And what has Jesus done in his whole speech from the very beginning of the selected gospel text? Yes, he has given honor and respect to John the Baptist. He has heaped compliment after compliment on him. He has lifted him up over all the rulers and kings who walk around in palaces in expensive clothing. He has exalted him over all the prophets in the Old Testament. He has said that John the Baptist is the greatest among those who are born of women. Why does Jesus give such honor to John the Baptist?
Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! Jesus gives such great honor to John so that we do the same. People in Judah went out to see him. They showed curiosity, but they didn’t show him honor. They gave no response to his preaching, at least, not a saving response. They did not care about what he proclaimed. They did not take his preaching to heart. They came to him, but not to honor him. There really is no greater disrespect than when people do not believe you.
If we “honor” John the Baptist in many church services during the church year, but at the same time do not care about what he says, what kind of “honor” are we really showing him? No, Jesus teaches us that we should honor John by listening to his words and taking them to heart, by opening our ears and letting John’s message find room in our hearts. Then we will be giving him the honor he deserves.
John’s message is distinct from the message of the prophets who came before him in one way. The prophets testified to the Savior who would come. But John was allowed to see him come, and showed people the Savior who had come. He pointed to Jesus and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
John teaches us to regret our sins and to confess them. But regret alone does not save us if it is not followed by faith. John shows us Jesus, who, with his perfect offering, takes away the sins of the world. Because Jesus has taken away the sins of the world, we can be sure that he has also taken away our sins. We honor John when we receive his testimony about Jesus. We should show him this honor not only on days of the church year where we read about him, but every day. Every day we should repent of our sins, set them aside, and turn our gaze in the direction to which John is pointing: “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” It is only through faith in Jesus that we are saved.