We Don’t Take It By Force

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Today’s Text: Matthew 11:7–15

Key Verse: Matthew 11:12 (ESV) — “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”

The gospel is never in the irder of Sharia. It is always righteousness, peace and joy in the kingdom. So, Jesus does not call us to force His kingdom into existence by human pressure, manipulation, or fleshly struggle, or prayer militance. Rather, He calls us to receive it with earnest faith, holy urgency, and determined repentance, for the kingdom of heaven is not seized by force and pride but embraced by those who hunger for righteousness.

Jesus spoke those words in reference to the “violence” of persecution and opposition aimed at God’s kingdom. He truly means that the kingdom of heaven has “suffered violence” because wicked rulers and adversaries actively resisted its advance — most clearly since the arrest and beheading of John the Baptist, to silence message of the kingdom and prevent it from spreading. So, the believer is not the “violent men.” He is one that suffers from violent opponents of God.

While it is okay to grow spiritual passions and zeal for internal fight against personal sin and a fierce, passionate determination to pursue God, His kingdom and essings; it is never becoming of us to use physical or political force to establish God's kingdom on earth. From the days of John, the kingdom is being attacked, the "violent men" are the wicked adversaries of the faith, Herod, the Herodians, Pharisees, the Essenes, Sadducees the Roman authority and, of course islamic jihadist that would beheaded John the Baptist, persecute Christians, and use force to suppress the gospel.

Yes, the kingdom must advance with urgency, but not by force. No where is force consistent with the character and message of Christ. But we shall suffer opposition, and intense response as believers should become spiritual aggressors. When we do, we must remain gentle as a dove and as an uncompromising sheep before its sharers even when the kingdom message provokes a serious persecution from those who would not hear it, or who would prevent others from hearing it.

So, today, the Lord is correcting aggressive interpretation. Nothing of the kingdom; no, not salvation, not mercy, not favor, not healing or deliverance from darkness is ever taken by force. They are all received by faith, and accessed by obedience. When hearts are awakened by the voice of God, they do not linger in indifference. They press in with surrender and faith. Quit using this scripture as a license for spiritual violence. Christ never taught His people to wrest blessings from God by force. The mind of Christ is not self-willed ambition, but humble submission to the Father. True spiritual strength is not in trying to dominate heaven, but in yielding to heaven’s rule over the heart.

The only ardent response of the kingdom is the passionate resolve of those who will not let go of Christ, who will not settle for empty religion, and who will not turn back when truth confronts them, or because beheaders are after them. They press into the kingdom through repentance, perseverance, and obedient faith. This is not force. It is the zeal that consumes. It is not coercion. It is submission. As a child of God, you do not need to wrestle God into giving what He has already offered in Christ. What you need is hunger, faith, and a yielded heart that receives the kingdom as a treasure worth everything. Let your life reflect urgency without presumption, zeal without pride, and conviction without confusion.

Action Steps: Examine whether your pursuit of God has become performance, striving, or control rather than humble faith. Surrender every erroneous idea about “taking” from God and ask Him to teach you the gentleness and urgency of true kingdom living. Choose one act of repentance, obedience, or prayer today that reflects wholehearted pursuit of Christ.

Quote for the Day: “The kingdom is not taken by carnal force, but received by violent faith, holy hunger, and unwavering surrender.” — Simon Olatunji #quotablequote

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, set my heart in the true spirit of Your kingdom. Deliver me from pride, confusion, and fleshly striving. Teach me to press into Your reign with repentance, faith, and obedience, not with presumption or force. Let me receive Your kingdom as You intended, and live under Your rule with joy and truth. In Your powerful name I pray. Amen.

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Thank you for threshing the Word with Him today. For further study, read: Matthew 5:3–10; Luke 16:16; Luke 7:24–30; Hebrews 12:14–15.

With all my love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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