Cheryl Schatz

Someone on twitter gave an example of a commentary that said the reason that the least in the kingdom is greater than John is because we as believers know more than John did. This cannot be right for a few reasons. 1. The grammar is present tense. Jesus said that the least (present tense) who were in the kingdom at that time were greater than John the Baptist. They did not know more than John who had the witness of God’s Spirit that Jesus existed before John. 2. The term greater according to BDAG lexicon for Luke 7:28 means superior in importance. Importance does not have to do with a comparison of knowledge but of a “high position” (BDAG). 3. If John the Baptist was in the Kingdom and all others were “greater” then he, then he would be the least in the kingdom. Yet Jesus said presently there is the “least” (who is greater than John). If the “least” is still the “least” but is also greater than John, John cannot (at that time) be in the Kingdom. 4. Knowledge is not given as a reason that John is not in the Kingdom. The only means of comparison is the repentance of the crowd (having followed John’s baptism) and their following and hearing Christ, while John’s words are unbelief and his actions never followed Christ. I sympathize with those who find this hard saying of Jesus to be extremely hard. John is a likeable character. But Jesus is the One who knows the truth and if we disregard His words, we may be misled into thinking that one may enter the kingdom unconditionally. Jesus’ words about John are sobering. We must take heed to the One who is the Truth and whose words are Truth no matter how much emotion we have that war against Jesus’ words.