Needless to say, the interpretation and translation of this verse is extremely difficult. In Luke 16.16 the same saying is found in a context that concerns the role of the Law and the Prophets, but there the two clauses are inverted.

From the days of John the Baptist until now: a literal translation is ambiguous because it allows for the meaning “ever since John the Baptist has lived.” Actually, the ministry of John is in focus, and so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “When John the Baptist appeared….” Other translations follow Good News Translation with an expression such as “from the time of John’s ministry” or “from the time when John was preaching his message.”

The Greek verb rendered has suffered violence is understood by Revised Standard Version to be passive (“be taken by force, or violence”). It is possible, however, as RSV’s alternative rendering indicates, to understand the verb as middle voice, with the meaning “has been coming violently” (“exercise force, or violence”). Also problematic is the nature of the force that is exercised, whether conceived of as good or evil.

Scholars evaluate the evidence differently. Consequently at least four possible interpretations result from the two translational possibilities mentioned above. Before these alternative possibilities are presented, it will be useful to make two further observations: (a) The noun men of violence comes from the same stem as the verb has suffered violence. The noun appears in the New Testament only here, while the verb itself is found in the Lukan parallel (16.16). In its few known occurrences outside the New Testament, the noun seems always to be used in a bad sense. (b) The verb translated take … by force (Good News Translation “try to seize”) appears elsewhere in the New Testament only in Matthew 13.19, where it is used of the devil; there Good News Translation translates “snatches away.”
(1) If the initial verb is interpreted as middle (as in the Revised Standard Version alternative rendering), the Kingdom of heaven becomes the subject, and the exercise of force is automatically qualified as good (“makes its way with triumphant force”). New International Version, one of the few translations representing this interpretation, renders “The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold on it.” Zürcher Bibel is similar.
(2) If the verb is interpreted as passive, then at least three possible interpretations exist: (a) The passive verb may be understood in a positive sense, descriptive of the eagerness, self-sacrifice, and devotion by which some urgently seek to enter the Kingdom of heaven; for example, “they are pressing into the Realm of heaven—these eager souls are storming it!” (Moffatt), “men have been taking the Kingdom of Heaven by storm and impetuously crowding into it” (An American Translation), and “a situation … in which the Kingdom of Heaven is stormed, and in which those who are eager to storm their way into it clutch at it” (Barclay). The problem with this interpretation is the necessity of assigning a good sense to both the noun “violent men” and the verb “seize,” which contradicts what is known about the usage of the noun and verb elsewhere. Admittedly, however, the evidence is limited, and a positive sense may be intended. (b) The renderings of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are representative of the majority of modern translations and allow for two interpretations. The reference may be to earthly powers which personify the demonic forces of evil that attempt to restrain the advance of the Kingdom. (c) The second interpretation allowed for by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation is that the reference is to Zealots or others like them who attempted to bring in the Kingdom by force and violence. This interpretation enjoys the widest support among scholars, though the resultant translation of (b) and (c) would be essentially the same.

Obviously translators can never be really sure of the best way to render this sentence. Further, finding a way to say the kingdom has suffered violence depends on how kingdom of heaven itself has been handled. Nevertheless, here are some possible renderings for translators to consider: “there have been attacks made against God’s rule (or, the establishment of God’s rule), and violent men have tried to seize it by force,” “violent men (and other forces) have used force to try to seize control of God’s rule,” and “there have been men who have tried by violent force to establish God’s rule.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .