16:16 It is difficult to understand how this
verse relates to what has preceded.
The Law and the Prophets. This cannot refer to the OT because for
Jesus and Luke the OT did not cease with the coming of the kingdom as the next
verse shows. See comments on 1:6; Introduction 7 (2). The contrast is also not
between the OT and NT Scriptures. This expression must refer here to the OT
period or age.
Until John. The crux in interpreting this verse is
the understanding of how “until” should be interpreted. It can be interpreted
“up to but not including” or “up to and including” John. In the second instance
John the Baptist is understood as not being part of the realized kingdom.
According to this interpretation, he was a Jewish preacher of repentance before
the coming of the kingdom. Contrary to Conzelmann and others who hold this
view, Luke understood John the Baptist as a bridge between the old age and the
new age. Thus he was also part of God’s kingdom. This finds support in the
following: (1) John the Baptist preached the “good news” just as Jesus did (cf.
Luke 1:19; 3:18). (2) John’s mission was associated with the fulfillment of
Scripture (3:4–6) just as was Jesus’ (4:18–19), Peter’s (Acts 2:17–21), and
Paul’s (13:47). (3) Luke 3:1–2 introduces the coming of the kingdom temporally
with John’s appearance. There is no such introduction for Jesus’ coming because
there is no need for one—the NT era began with John’s appearance. (4) John’s
message was the same as that of Jesus and the early church. (5) John’s coming
was associated with the Spirit’s coming (1:15, 17, 41, 67, 80). He thus
fulfilled Elijah’s role (1:17). (6) John’s teachings are presented as normative
for the church (3:8–14; see comments on 3:10). (7) Matthew 11:12, the parallel
to Luke 16:16, portrays John as part of the NT age. It now is generally agreed
that if Conzelmann had included Luke 1–2 as part of the Gospel, he would not
have been able to argue so strongly for placing John in the OT era (see
comments on 1:68).
Since that time. “That time” is the time of John the
Baptist’s coming.
Good news of the kingdom of
God is being preached.
The Greek expression that this translates is awkward (the “kingdom of God ‘is
being evangelized’ [euangelizetai]”).
Everyone is forcing his way
into it. The verb can be
a middle (“everyone is forcing his way”) or a passive (“everyone is being
forced”). The parallel in Matt 11:12 (cf. also Luke 14:23) favors the passive.
This view would emphasize the resistance the kingdom receives from Satan, the
demons, and Jesus’ opponents and how only through urgent, demanding preaching
people enter the kingdom. The middle probably is better, however, and this
emphasizes the “violent” decision one must make in order to enter the kingdom
(cf. 13:24). Compare 14:25–35. (Robert H. Stein, Luke, [The New American Commentary 24; Nashville: Broadman &
Holman Publishers, 1992], 418-19)
