Interpretations on this verse, all Christians are welcome to answer?

Question

Matthew 11:11

“This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”


So where does that leave us who also believe in God and Jesus, who don’t even come close to the goodness of John the Baptist.?

I always thought I would be a least in heaven, not deserving of a mansion, I’d settle for a rock by a spring.

Or Are we all considered the least in heaven? ( Except the major saints, who I thought John was). It’s left me a little confused. A little clarification is all I’m asking for.

wizzards_23
Who says I didn’t read the whole thing? I asked a simple question about a PART that confused me some. For a Christian, you’re pretty assuming and judgmental.

Answer 1

It means that the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John was on earth. Jesus was not referring to John's life-after-death, only his earthly life.

From what I understand, Jesus was trying to get a point across. Everyone say John the Baptist as a great, great man, so Jesus was saying that even though he was the best guy around on Earth, he doesn't hold a match to someone in Heaven.

Answer 2

At the time Jesus was explaining this. The Jews accepted John the Baptist as a great prophet. John the baptist is great and in heaven. But Jesus was explaining the least or last in heaven would be greater than John the Baptist as they saw him.

Even though John the Baptist is great the whole purpose of Christ is to save the world. Those that make it is the goal of Christ making you greater than John the Baptist.

I hope you understand what I'm saying

Answer 3

Up until the time of Jesus, John the Baptist was considered the greatest Prophet. Jesus was not a Prophet, but the Savior of mankind. I believe this verse is making a comparison that ordinary people are just as important to Jesus and in Heaven as John the Baptist. It also means that John the Baptist was rejected as a great one because he really prepared the way for Jesus to come.

In Revelation, Jesus says that "In My house there are many mansions, and I go there to prepare a place for you.". This means that you're very important to God and Jesus, and that you will have a place of importance in heaven.
Most people cannot grasp the concept that the Bible talks about us not being the same in Heaven (in our earthly bodies), as we are on earth.


If you recall, when John the Baptist baptized Jesus, he stated that he wasn't even worthy to tie Jesus' sandals. This showed John the Baptist taking a back seat so-to-speak to Jesus.
It doesn't mean that there is no God or Jesus, or that this verse indicates that John the Baptist is greater than either one. That is what I get from your question. I hope this answers your questions.

You really have to read sometimes the chapter before and after and not just take a verse out of context in order to interpret it.

Answer 4

Every believer is equal. I am a saint. The saints are the believers, and there is no such thing as "major saints". Every believer is a saint.

We don't have to be "as good as" John the Baptist or anyone, because works don't save. The only way to be saved and go to heaven and not eternal hell is by believing that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Answer 5

No, your interpretation is incorrect. Remember, the SUBJECT is "My messenger," which is another way of saying that God would send a prophet to prepare the peoples' hearts before Messiah came. Jesus was merely saying that OF THOSE MESSENGERS whom God had sent in the past, the prophet John the Baptist was the greatest. Why? Because he had the priviledge of seeing, touching and speaking with the Messiah -- God in the flesh -- while all the other prophets only saw visions of Him.

However, John the Baptist died before Jesus' sacrificial death -- so he is not a member of the Body/Bride of Christ, which is exhaulted in Heaven. So we have a priviledged position by the grace of God, don't we?

Answer 6

Jesus was affirming John's calling and what he did and said. He was saying he had the greatest mission of all-- to announce My coming. I, Jesus, am what all the prophets fore told. Yet John had the honor of saying my coming is at hand.
What an Honor among the prophets. Yet anyone who acknowledges me as their King has an even greater honor of being part of my Kingdom.

I believe John would be included in this. Jesus was just trying to honor John's role and yet keep it in perspective to the real honor of being part of Jesus' kingdom.

It was kind of like saying, 'Here's the chef!' is an honor but a greater honor is cooking with him.

Answer 7

Basically. What Jesus is saying is.
That John, being the poorest of the poor. kept his faith, and his belief. And since John was his cousin,
John already knew who Jesus was. before he was even born.
And was proud to serve his God. And That John ,was the most important person at that time.
And, that Jesus. Put him before himself.
As a place of honor.
And Jesus gave, him (john) permission to stand in his presence, above all other men.

Answer 8

When Jesus said what we read at Matthew 11:11, John was already imprisoned. Jesus made it known in advance that this imprisoned prophet was lesser than the least one who in the future would serve as a king-priest in the heavens. Yet, Jesus also seems to have known that John was soon to die, passing off the earthly scene before the “new” way to heavenly life was opened. (Hebrews 10:19, 20) That meant that John would not survive until Pentecost 33 C.E., when the anointing of Jesus’ disciples with spirit began. Hence, Jesus’ comment at Matthew 11:11 can be taken as well to be an indication that he knew that John would not go to heaven.
Is heavenly life set out as the hope for all Christians?
Matt.5:5: “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.” Matt.6:9,10: : “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (What is God’s will regarding the earth? What do Genesis 1:28 and Isaiah 45:18 indicate?)

Matt. 25:31-33, 40, 46: “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. . . . The king will say to them [the sheep], ‘Truly I say to you, To the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ And [the goats] will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones [the sheep] into everlasting life.” Notice that these “sheep” are not the same as the King’s brothers, who are “partakers of the heavenly calling.” [Heb. 2:10–3:1] But these sheeplike ones would be alive during the time that Christ was on his throne and during the time when some of his “brothers” would still be experiencing hardship on earth.

John 10:16: “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” Who are these “other sheep”? They are followers of the Fine Shepherd, Jesus Christ, but are not in the “new covenant” sheepfold, with hope of heavenly life. Yet they do come to be closely associated with those who are in that sheepfold.
To how many does the Bible hold out hope of heavenly life?
Luke 12:32: “Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom.”
Rev. 14:1-3: “I saw, and, look! the Lamb [Jesus Christ] standing upon the Mount Zion [in heaven; see Hebrews 12:22-24], and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. . . . And they are singing as if a new song . . . and no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth.”
So what happens to rest of us. Rev. 7:9,10  After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. 10 And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: “Salvation [we owe] to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Psalm 37:9-11,29: " 9 For evildoers themselves will be cut off, But those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth.
10 And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. 11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. 29 The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it. So as you can see the majorith of mankind will live on earth , paradise earth.

Answer 9

It has not to do with 'goodness' as you say, but rather has to do with greatness in terms of power and authority against satan's kingdon....We destroy Satan's kingdom because we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us ...if you have been baptized in His Spirit.

Evere since Pentecost when the holy Spirit was poured out from heaven, all men can have greater impact and power against the enemies of God.

Answer 10

i thinkn when u get into the kingdom of heaven u are more than u were on earth ALSO at this time only angels and God were in heaven because Jesus had not died for our sins yet so Moses and all them were in Paradise still waiting!


EDIT also I don't think we are considered the leat in heave at all WE AR GODS CHILDREN! Until Jesus died we were NOT we weren't reconsiled yet but now we are accordin to the Bible we are above the angels becasue we are no longer servants but children