What does Matthew 11:12 mean?

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Where to find helpful answers when a verse is hard to understand?

So the bible has to interpret itself. No one can come up with their own interpretation. The bible isnt based on each persons opinion.

1 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We use other parts of the bible to gain understanding about the verse that were looking at. We know that the bible cannot contradict itself, so if another part of the bible clearly contradicts what I think the verse is saying, then I've got the interpretation wrong. So if maybe I look at a verse and think that its telling me that a Christians aim in life is to be financially rich, I need to check other verses that contradict that, such as those who suppose that gain is godliness.

We also have to look at the context a verse is in. So if its in a passage that is poetical, such as revelation, and the things that are being talked about are symbolic, then I shouldn't take one thing from the passage and make it literal, such as a literal mark of the beast, or a literal 666.

So there should be other verses that help us understand what it means when the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. The word violence in this verse means to use force or to force, to push or press. With that in mind, we have a parallel verse that can shed some light on the verse.

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

All kinds of men, and women, and children are pressing their way into the kingdom. We know that this isn't physical violence, as heaven is a spiritual place, we can't physically force our way into it. But the same zeal and passion is required to find heaven spiritually. We cant just come to God and say "I guess it would be good if I came to heaven, can you let me in". We have to come seriously and truly wanting to find the Lord. It has to be the most important thing to us. We have to come really seeing ourselves as the sinner that we are, and really knowing that we need Christs work alone, or else we have nothing. This is greater than life and death to us, and we'd put the same violence or effort in that we would if we were trying to save our own lives.

An example of this violence is found in Genesis.

Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Jacob wouldn't let go until he was blessed, he wrestled to know that blessing, it was so important to him. We have to do the same, we need to wrestle with God in prayer, pray to Him and seek Him until he blesses you. Not because you deserve or have earn't it, but because God is merciful to give it to you if you come.

Don't give up if you have sought the Lord and not yet seen an answer, something may need to change with you, but keep seeking, learn more through Gods word, humble yourself and trust in Christ.

Your christian walk will be filled with this violence too, so it's not something that stops once you find the Lord. We are to serve Him with zeal and obey Him with passion for the rest of our lives. Finding the Lord isn't an easy path, but there is great blessing to those who do.

Finally, don't think that taking the kingdom of heaven by violence means you've earn't it. You come with zeal and passion, but you come in dependence on Christ. You are trusting only in the work he has done. You haven't earn't your salvation any more than someone reaching out and grabbing hold of a life ring has saved themselves. It's the rope that the life ring is attached to and the person on the other end who is doing the saving. You simply reach out and grab.

So if you are seeking, keep going diligently and passionately till you find the kingdom of heaven, and if you know the Lord, keep that passion and zeal up to obey His word and serve hIm in all you do.