Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Matthew 7-8
Matthew 8:11
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Our Lord takes an opportunity to introduce a new idea. Throughout the Old Testament, from the time of Abraham, God has primarily been active in one bloodline of people. The Hebrews. A scarlet thread has woven its way throughout the Bible narrative, until now. Now there is something else. A new idea, one that Jesus presents.
While speaking to the centurion, a man in the Roman army with 100 soldiers under his command, who was a Gentile, Jesus makes an astonishing announcement. He tells all who will hear (remember He just finished the sermon on the Mount, no doubt many were with him during this conversation) that many will come from the east and west to sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The phrase “east and west” spoke of nations of peoples that were not Jewish. “Sit down” in the manner it was used probably indicates a meal. This must have been shocking to the Jews. After all, according to that which Peter said in Acts 10:28 it was considered unlawful for a Jew to keep company with one of another nation, meaning Gentiles.
But here, Jesus is saying that Gentiles will sit down with the patriarchs of the Jewish nation in the kingdom of Heaven. Yet, not only that, Jesus also clearly states that Jews (the children of the kingdom) would be cast out and there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth (vs. 12). This is a difficult, if not impossible concept to prove conclusively. But suffice it to say, Jesus made two gigantic, societal changing statements.
Take special notice that in verse 11 Jesus said kingdom of heaven, in verse 12 He only mentioned kingdom. The word kingdom alone usually speaks of a nation or nations whereas the kingdom of heaven is a singular spiritual and eternal kingdom. He is not saying that Jewish individuals could not or would not be saved, but, in the opinion of this writer, He is saying that there would be conflict, anguish, and sorrow for nationalistic Jews both against the Gentiles and from the Gentiles, which took place throughout the Gospels, especially in the book of Acts, and thereafter. If Jesus were speaking literally, He could have been speaking about the dispersion of the Jews that took place around 70 A.D. under the harsh treatment received from Titus the Roman General and their subsequent persecutions by the hands of many.
Regardless of the specifics, this we know. Jesus has ushered in a new era. Just as Paul confirmed in Romans 11:25. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. The fullness of the Gentiles is that time between the Gospel being offered to them in Acts 13:46 until the rapture of all the saints. For truly, in Christ and according to Romans 10:12… For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Dr. William T. Howe
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