Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 11:12

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force .

As Iohn Baptist was a great man, so the Lord hath owned him as such giving such a Success to his Ministry, that ever since he began the Course of it, men have been carried on with a great Ardor, and Heat, in hearing and receiving the Gospel, which is the Gospel of the Kingdom, and bringeth men into the Kingdom of Christ amongst men, and at last to the Kingdom of Glory. The Hearts of Men and Women have been inflamed with a Desire after the knowledge, and obtaining of Heaven, and Heavenly things: They are great Persons whom God thus owneth, and those whom the Lord thus owneth, are ordinarily such as have some measures of the Spirit of this first Gospel Ministry, making the great things of God the matter of their Discourse, and doing their Work, with a Seriousness, Zeal, and Favour fitted to it. The violent take it by Force: They are not lazy Wishes, or Cold indeavours that will bring men to Heaven.

Marginal references: Or, is gotten by Force, [illegible: 1 letter]nd that they that thrust men.; Luk. 16.16.