For. It is only right that there should be such a seizing of the kingdom of heaven, for in a certain sense the function of the prophets and the Law ceased with John. All. Not one alone, but all, however various their teaching.
The prophets and the law. In Luke (Luke 16:16) the Law is mentioned first, because the context is there dealing chiefly with the Law. Here our Lord has said that John was more than a prophet, and he naturally continues to speak of prophets first.
The mention of the Law comes in almost as an afterthought, and yet without it the Jews might have fallen back on the Law when the prophets failed them (cf. verse 11, note). Prophesied. Including the ideas both of predicting Messiah and of making known the will of God (cf.
Matthew 5:19, note). Until John. The message of the written Word was considered as active—the prophets and the Law still spoke—until, in tact, he came who was the close of that epoch.