There are three types of violence in the bible:
- Physical violence
- Spiritual violence
- Violence against the Kingdom of Heaven
All three kinds of violence have different meanings but they are all wrong/sin. The bible uses the same word (violence) to describe all three. We are left to discern which type of violence certain scriptures are referring to.
John 18:36 – Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
In the kingdom of Heaven, there is no form of violence. Physical fighting, grudge holding or violence against the kingdom of heaven does not exist. The concept of violence is not from the kingdom of heaven. It is a concept from the world.
Jesus is stating that if his kingdom were of this world, his servants would be fighting for him, because fighting (violence) is a concept from the world and not heaven. Since Jesus’s kingdom is from heaven, his servants did not live by violence. Jesus taught this to his disciples in the garden of Gethsemane: “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.” Matthew 26:52
Physical Violence In The Bible
The first kind of violence is the most obvious one which is physical violence or to physically abuse someone. Physical violence in any form or capacity is wrong and unacceptable as per the bible. There is no circumstance in which the bible condones any form of physical violence.
We must have faith that God will judge, punish and avenge those who have been physically harmed. It is not for us to take the law into our own hands. We must remain faultless in God’s eyes, as it says in the following scripture:
Romans 12:17-21 – Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Hebrews 10:30 – For we know him who said, “vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
Even self defense is not a reason to resort to physical violence, as we can see in the following verse.
Matthew 5:38-48 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Luke 6:27-31 – But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Physical violence in any form, whether offensive or defensive, is wrong, as per the teachings of Jesus. Through his own life, Jesus offered us an excellent example of this:
1 Peter 2:20-23 – But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Isaiah 53:7-9 – He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Paul also shows us that he did not retaliate to those who harmed him.
2 Timothy 4:14 – Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.
The Spiritual Sword Is The Word Of God
Matthew 26:52-54 – Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
This scripture is explaining that all those who live with a philosophy of physical violence and revenge shall die spiritually by the spiritual sword which is the word of God. They will not enter the kingdom of God and will partake of the second death which is hell.
Jesus is also stating that all those who live by the spiritual sword, the word of God, shall die by the sword meaning die to their old spirit and ways.
In other words, you either die by the word of God in this age or the next. In this age, death is momentary, but in the next age, death is eternal. One way or another, all shall die by the ‘sword’, the word of God.
The following scriptures show us that the word of God is the ‘sword’:
Ephesians 6:17 – Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Matthew 10:34 – Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Jesus did not come wielding a physical sword. This scripture does not mean that Jesus condoned grudge-holding, violence against the Kingdom or physical violence. This scripture means that Jesus came armed with the true meaning of God’s word. It is a pure and true interpretation which causes division, even to this day.
Luke 12:51 – Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.
Revelations 1:16 – In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Matthew 4:4 – But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Isaiah 49:2 – He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.
Psalm 17:13 – Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
Psalm 7:12 – If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.
Revelation 2:12 – And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.’
Psalm 149:6 – May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands.
Spiritual Violence In The Bible Is Unforgiveness
The second kind of violence in the bible is spiritual violence which is the act of grudge holding. This is unforgiveness and a form of seeking revenge. Grudge holding and unforgiveness is wrong and is a sin. That means we must forgive everyone – no exceptions.
Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.
Luke 6:27 – But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
Mark 11:25 – And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Matthew 5:21-22 – You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
1 Peter 3:9 – Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Titus 3:2 – To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Matthew 5:43-46 – You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Proverbs 29:11 – A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
James 1:19-20 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Leviticus 19:18 – you shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Proverbs 19:11 – Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Colossians 3:5-14 – Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Matthew 18:21-22 – Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Proverbs 25:21-22 – If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
1 John 4:20-21 – If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Proverbs 20:22 – Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Luke 6:32-36 – if you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Matthew 6:12 – and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
Proverbs 24:29 – Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
Matthew 18:34-35 – In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Matthew 6:14-15 – For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Proverbs 12:16 – Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
Psalm 37:8-9 – Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
1 John 3:14 – We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
We must follow Jesus’ example and forgive others. Jesus’ perfect example of his teachings can be found in the following scriptures:
Luke 23:34 – And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Matthew 5:44 – But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Luke 6:28 – bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Matthew 5:38 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Matthew 6:14-15 – For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
These scriptures relate to literal physical slaps and also spiritual slaps. Spiritual slaps means any offense given by another human being (a hurtful word/insult, etc.). We must remember that we cannot be forgiven by God if we do not forgive others their insults and offenses against us.
Violence Against The Kingdom Of Heaven
In the spiritual world of the Kingdom of Heaven, there is no literal violence. Violence against the kingdom of heaven is claiming that you have the Holy Spirit, even though you are unrepentant. You end up viewing the meaning of the bible and Jesus’ teachings in your own compromised way. This is done to suit your own actions due to your unrepentance and a lack of faith.
Isaiah 59:6 – Their webs will not become garments, nor will they cover themselves with their works; their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
This scripture is drawing a comparison to a man of violence and his devious ways. It is not really a direct characteristic of a violent person, but rather, the characteristic of an individual who twists and manipulates the word of God, to suit himself. In the kingdom of heaven, this is considered a violent act.
Genesis 6:11 – Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
This scripture is speaking of iniquity as violence.
The following two scriptures explain the people during the time of Noah. It’s interesting to note that the bible does not state the people in Noah’s time were ever physically abusing each other or killing each other. On the contrary, Jesus states the following:
Matthew 24:37-38 – As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;
Luke 17:26-27 – Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
The days of Noah do not sound at all like a violent time! However, we do know that the people during Noah’s time were swept away in the flood because they had twisted the word of God.
As a result of compromising the word of God, they were not following it/keeping it. This is the type of violence that God is referring to in this scripture.
Proverbs 13:2 – From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
When a man speaks the true interpretation of the word of God, it is like fruit. These are the words that he also lives by. But a treacherous man speaks a compromised version which is based on his own desires and will, which is a violent act.
Psalm 17:4 – As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent. I have avoided the ways of the violent.
Psalm 11:5 – The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
An Example Of Violence Against The Kingdom Of Heaven
Psalm 73:6 – Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
Malachi 2:16 – For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.
When a man divorces his wife, it is considered a violent act. In his heart and mind, he has twisted and manipulated the word of God in order to allow and justify this sin (divorce). This is the kind of violence this scripture is speaking of.
Mark 10:11 – He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 – To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
Divorce is a sin and is against God’s word. This should not be compromised or justified, as we can see in the above scriptures.
Jeremiah 6:7 – As a well keeps its water fresh, so she keeps fresh her evil; violence and destruction are heard within her; sickness and wounds are ever before me.
How Can Violence Be Heard From Within Someone?
Violence can be heard from within through the compromise of one’s heart. If you listen to a man’s words, you will hear the compromises he has made to justify his sinful actions. This compromise is a violent act against the kingdom of God.
Proverbs 10:11 – The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Zephaniah 1:9 – On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud.
Ezekiel 7:23 – Forge a chain! For the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence.
Proverbs 4:17 – For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Psalm 140:1 – Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,
Psalm 74:20 – Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
Jonah 3:8 – but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
Psalm 18:48 – who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence.
King David is explaining in this scripture how God has saved him from both physical violence and kingdom violence (people who manipulate the word of God). These men did not distract King David from following God’s ways. If we read further in verses 20-28, we can see this:
20The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. 23I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; 26 with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.27 For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. 28 For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
Psalm 11:5 – The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Proverbs 10:6 – Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
There Was No Violence Found In Jesus
Isaiah 53:9 – And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Other translations:
New Living Translation – He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.
Contemporary English Version – He wasn’t dishonest or violent, but he was buried in a tomb of cruel and rich people.
Good News Translation – He was placed in a grave with those who are evil, he was buried with the rich, even though he had never committed a crime or ever told a lie.”
Jesus never manipulated the word of God. He had done no violence; physically, spiritually but most importantly, against the Kingdom of God. There was no deceit found in his words either. Yet, he was still buried as if he was a criminal with the wicked, in the grave of a rich man. He was buried with those who manipulated the word of God to justify their wealth even though this was not the case with Jesus.
Trying To Take The Kingdom Of Heaven By Violence
Matthew 11:12 – From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
Before Jesus came with the correct interpretation of the word of God, everyone in some form and capacity was violent against the kingdom of heaven due to their iniquity. No one fully understood the word of God. But with Jesus’ teachings, this time has come to an end and iniquity has been eradicated.
For a comprehensive look on how Jesus removed our iniquity, check out the article How Jesus Died For Iniquity.
Violence against the kingdom of heaven means to believe in a manipulated and compromised form of Jesus’ teachings because it suits your own beliefs and actions. You claim to have the Holy Spirit and you also teach others your compromised beliefs and deceive them into believing that they too, will receive the Holy Spirit. This is taking the kingdom of heaven by violence.
As a recap, the three kinds of violence in the bible are as follows:
1) Physical violence – literally assaulting or abusing someone.
2) Spiritual violence – Grudge holding which is a form of unforgiveness.
3) Violence against the Kingdom of Heaven – compromising and manipulating the teachings of Jesus to suit your own actions, claiming you have the Holy Spirit and teaching your compromised understanding to others.
Read On:
Case study 1: How The Rich Commit Violence Against The Kingdom of Heaven
Case study 2: Churches Teaching Compromise Is Violence Against The Kingdom of Heaven
