Luke 16 16

Luke 16:16 kjv

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

Luke 16:16 nkjv

"The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

Luke 16:16 niv

"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it.

Luke 16:16 esv

"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.

Luke 16:16 nlt

"Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 16 Meaning

Luke 16:16 declares a pivotal shift in God's redemptive timeline. It marks the culmination of the Old Covenant era, characterized by the Law and the Prophets, with the ministry of John the Baptist. From John onward, a new dispensation began, wherein the Kingdom of God, God's active reign and salvation, is openly proclaimed. This message calls for an urgent and zealous response, where people actively press forward to embrace it.

Luke 16 16 Context

Luke 16:16 appears within a series of Jesus' teachings and parables primarily directed at His disciples, but with strong implications for the listening Pharisees. Chapter 16 begins with the parable of the Unjust Steward, teaching on prudent handling of wealth and faithfulness in little things, contrasting earthly prudence with heavenly stewardship. Verse 14 reveals the Pharisees' love for money, and verse 15 exposes their self-righteousness. This verse (16:16) serves as a sharp theological interjection. It addresses the Pharisees' rigid adherence to the Mosaic Law while failing to recognize God's ongoing redemptive plan that had culminated in Jesus' ministry. It points out that they are clinging to a preparatory phase while God's ultimate reign is now breaking in and demands a new kind of response. The historical context includes the strong Jewish reliance on the Torah and prophetic tradition, the Messianic expectations, and John the Baptist's unique role as the bridge between the old covenant and the new.

Luke 16 16 Word analysis

• The Law and the Prophets (ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται - ho nomos kai hoi prophētai): This refers to the entirety of the Old Testament revelation, summarizing the sacred texts of Judaism. It encompasses all divine instruction, history, prophecy, and wisdom given by God before the coming of Christ. It was the complete blueprint of God's redemptive work leading up to the Messiah.

• were until John (μέχρι Ἰωάννου - mechri Iōannou): The Greek mechri signifies a temporal limit or boundary. It denotes a cessation of one phase and the commencement of another. It doesn't mean the Law was abolished or made irrelevant, but that its primary role as the sole, progressive revelation for the Messiah's coming concluded with John. John was the final and greatest of the Old Covenant prophets, directly heralding the King's arrival.

• since that time (ἀπὸ τότε - apo tote): A definitive marker of a new epoch. From the point of John's ministry, a new divine era was inaugurated, establishing a discontinuity from the prior age while maintaining continuity with God's ultimate plan.

• the kingdom of God (ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ - hē basileia tou theou): Refers to God's active, dynamic, and sovereign rule, which had already begun to manifest in the person and ministry of Jesus. It is His kingship asserting itself on earth, bringing salvation, spiritual reality, and future consummation.

• is preached (εὐαγγελίζεται - euangelizetai): In the passive voice, it indicates that the Kingdom is being proclaimed as good news (euangelion). It is not a secret but is being publicly and powerfully announced, available through faith.

• and every man (καὶ πᾶς - kai pas): Signifies universal access, extending the call to anyone, without distinction, contrasting with any perception of exclusive access based on birthright or legalistic observance.

• presseth into it (εἰς αὐτὴν βιάζεται - eis autēn biazetai): This phrase has been interpreted in multiple ways, stemming from the Greek verb biazetai.

  • Interpretation A (Active, middle voice implied): People are forcefully, eagerly, zealously, or violently pressing into the Kingdom. This implies an intense, determined, and perhaps difficult effort to grasp and enter the Kingdom, especially against opposition (like societal norms, old traditions, or the devil's resistance). This view emphasizes the radical commitment and eagerness of those responding to the good news, exemplified by "sinners" and tax collectors flocking to John and Jesus.
  • Interpretation B (Passive, suffering violence): The Kingdom itself is suffering violence or being assaulted. This could mean either from those who oppose it or from those who seek to take it by illegitimate means or with the wrong motives. Given the preceding verses concerning the Pharisees who loved money and justified themselves, this interpretation could suggest they tried to twist the Kingdom for their own ends or reject it violently.
  • The former interpretation (A), supported by the parallel in Matthew 11:12 ("the violent take it by force"), is generally favored for its consistency with the call for urgent, active response to Jesus' message. It describes the earnestness of those embracing the gospel.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "The Law and the Prophets were until John": Establishes a definitive break point in redemptive history. It highlights that God's progressive revelation culminated with John, marking the end of a preparatory period and the completion of its function.
  • "since that time the kingdom of God is preached": Clearly delineates the new epoch introduced by John and fulfilled by Jesus. The emphasis shifts from future prophecy and ritualistic observance to the present reality and active proclamation of God's direct, saving rule.
  • "and every man presseth into it": Describes the required enthusiastic, urgent, and perhaps sacrificial human response to the divine invitation. It emphasizes that entrance into God's Kingdom demands zealous effort and determination from individuals, regardless of background, challenging passive or complacent approaches.

Luke 16 16 Bonus section

• This verse provides theological justification for the profound shift from a covenant primarily mediated through the Law to one based on the King (Jesus) and His reign.
• It subtly corrects the misconception that strict adherence to the Law alone guaranteed entrance to God's favor without an active embrace of His revealed Kingdom through Christ.
• The tension implied by "presseth into it" highlights the spiritual conflict involved in accepting the Kingdom, which often means facing opposition, relinquishing old loyalties, and embracing radical obedience. It points to the costly nature of discipleship.
• The "every man" aspect broadens the scope of God's redemptive work beyond a single ethnic or national group, affirming that God's saving power is universally offered to all who believe.

Luke 16 16 Commentary

Luke 16:16 encapsulates a critical transition in salvation history. Before John the Baptist, the entire revelation of God's will and purpose for humanity, embodied in the Law and the Prophets, prepared the way for the Messiah. This era ended definitively with John's ministry, who served as the ultimate bridge figure between the old and the new. From John's appearance, the very essence of God's active rule—the Kingdom of God—began to be preached as a present reality through Jesus Christ.

This proclamation demands an urgent, radical, and earnest response. "Every man presseth into it" suggests a dynamic and vigorous pursuit of the Kingdom. It is not an exclusive domain for the self-righteous or the outwardly observant, but an open invitation to all who respond with zeal, sometimes overcoming significant personal or social obstacles. This eagerness is a contrast to the complacent, often hypocritical, religiosity of those like the Pharisees, who failed to recognize God's new work. Entering the Kingdom requires a profound and deliberate shift from former ways, actively embracing God's sovereignty with genuine commitment.