Entering the heavenly kingdom

[Kosmas Damianides]

Recently, I have been drawn to the passage of the Bible where Jesus states:

"You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped." (Luke 16:15-17)

Now the part in bold "everyone tries to enter it by force" could wrongly be seen as a licence for someone to be motivated to be ambitiious and to do their own will by force in order to exel within the Church (ie. the Kingdom on Earth), by manipulating those around them. How do the fathers interpret these verses?

I ask this question because I think my pious friends have fallen into a trap of the devil.

[katya the nurse-aid]

well..well..well..it is a mirrow, the souls around you...if they crooked ones it means you are...not everyone, yet they are morrow of your own soul...and if you look at that morow and it is shining, smiling, happy or relaxed..when you look that this mirrow, talks to it, communicate with it...then you know who is the Third...between you and other sool...we have that proff constnatly....but if you see ugly reflection and angry one....you know how you look yourself, so to others is affected by it, and then you know who againg is in the midst of you and other, not the same Third, who was in the first example...And it is takes time, to refleactions become more and more clear, yet if you see it happening, it means it is right force you use, if all reflections is bad, means wrong force is used...Let's just try to take by force own soul, and then we will see more and more beatiful reflections in the mirrow of other souls...

[Father David Moser]

Here is the text of a recent email on that very topic from another list:

> bless father
> dear father please tell me a word about the Gospel verse from Matthew 11:12.

St Ignatii Brianchaninov tells us that we must always read the Gospel, but that we must never read without the words of the fathers so that we might gain a proper understanding. St Ignatii recommends the commentary of Blessed Theophylact. Here are the comments of Blessed Theophylact concerning this portion of the Gospel:

"Consider this: Christ, by saying of himself that He is greater than John, strongly urges them to believe in Him, showing that many are by force acquiring the kingdom of heaven, that is, faith in Him. And there is need of great force,for in order to leave father and mother and to despies one's own life, how much force is needed?"

Archpr. David

[Kosmas Damianides]

Your blessings father, that was truly inspiring. However what do you mean by despising one's life? Couldn't that lead to despondency and depression?

[Father David Moser]

Its not what I mean, but rather what Blessed Theophylact meant (since these are his words, not mine). When I read that phrase, I recall the words of our Lord, "Whoever would come after me let him DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and FOLLOW ME" This is what it means (in my mind) to despise my own life - it means to give up MY life, to turn my back on what *I* want and live instead the life of Christ. To give up one's self and follow Christ fully and completely leads not to despair and despondency but only to joy and peace.

Prot. David

[Kosmas Damianides]

I see a great contrast between these two quotes.


"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." (Mark 10:15 & Luke 18:17).

" You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped." (Luke 16:15-17)

The first quote describes a gentleness and innocence while the second suggests violence and force. However we notice that there is no promise for those who enter by force.


"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 6:1).

This raises the obvious question, what is truly necessary for us to enter the kingdom of heaven?

St Paul explains that "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the Kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22).

If we see the Kingdom of God equal to eternal life, then we must look at Jesus responses to this very question.

Appart from asking us to change and becoming like children of God, Jesus tells us that "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God's wrath." (John 3:36) here we see that there is eternal Joy and Life in the kingdom of God but there is likewise eternal punishment and death for those who reject Christ's teachings.

To some, Jesus requires that they sell all his belongings and give them to the poor. To a lawyer Jesus gave this command "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

There is no other force that can save us, appart from our Love for God and there is no other ambition than to serve selflessly and compassionately for our fellow human beings. Our driving force therefore and our life ambition should be non other than to lift up our Cross daily and follow Christ.

If you have any more information on this specific quote please don't be shy.

[Kosmas Damianides]

Thank you once again Father.

[Kosmas Damianides]

Thank you Katya the nurse aid, that is true what you said.

This is like what Jesus once said.


Matthew 7:
3. " Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?
4. Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye?
5. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye."

However, our faces are very easy to change, but our souls are much harder to change. Living with someone who wears a mask all day is like living with a crocodile.

Our true mirror image and likeness is therefore Jesus Christ. I have met many smiling crocodiles in my life and sooner or later they snap at you.

Jesus sent his disciples as sheep amongst wolves, can you imagine if he said I send you as wolves amongst sheep? How different would Christianity be today?