Matthew 11:7-19  Jesus had great love and respect for John.  He knew John's heart.. and He knew that John would soon be killed.   He wanted the people to know that John was a prophet.. and "more than a prophet".  He said that John was a messenger.. sent to "prepare [His] way before [Him]".  

But.. it is John's message that they needed to grasp.. not his strange life of wearing a robe of camel's hair, eating locusts and honey, and living in the wild.  Why did they go out to see John? Jesus asks, "To see a prophet?".. or something else?   John was indeed a prophet.. A prophet who preached repentance. A prophet who announced the coming of God's kingdom. A prophet who proclaimed that Jesus is the "Lamb of God". That's what they needed to grasp.. the Truth of the coming Kingdom.

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence... "  The Bible Knowledge Commentary says this, "The religious leaders of Jesus' day (forceful men ) were resisting the movement introduced by John, Jesus, and the apostles... (the verb lay hold of means to grasp in the sense of resisting or laying claim to it as their own). Those leaders wanted a kingdom, but not the kind Jesus was offering." 

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."  Jesus tells us.  We need to listen carefully and heed the truth. What kind of kingdom is it that we are seeking? Are we going out looking for a new message?  Are we trying to build our own kingdoms? Or are we willing to surrender all of that.. to be "poor in spirit... for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (5:3). 

Jesus said that the generation before Him were like children.. didn't want the flute.. didn't want the dirge: didn't want John because he didn't fit their agenda.. didn't want Jesus, because He didn't fit their expectations. "Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."  That generation would reject their Messiah and they would miss the truth of John's message. We need to pray for our generation to not miss it or Him... too!

Praise God.. some will  have "ears to hear".. some will find the Truth and will enter the Kingdom of God.. not by forceful wills.. but by humble repentance.. and God-given faith in the One who calls them... calls us.. to "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." ( v28)

Father in heaven, You have hidden "these things form the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes.."  We cannot do anything on our own.. we need Jesus!  Every day.. constantly abiding in Him. Fill us with Your Spirit.. with Your love for those who need the message of the Kingdom.. who need to know that Jesus still calls for the weary and heavy-laden to come to Him. Search our hearts, Lord God, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.. from all things that keep us from Your Truth.. from seeking any other kingdom except Yours!  We desire Your Presence.. asking that Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth.. in us. as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus, our King, we pray. Amen.