The Sons Of The Kingdom

And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Matthew 8:11-12 

What are we to understand about the ‘sons of the kingdom’ to whom Christ refers in our text? He was speaking to a gentile. He was saying that many ‘from east and west,’ that is non-Israelites, would come to sit down with the fathers of the faithful in the kingdom. He contrasts that group with, ‘the sons of the kingdom,’ who would be ‘cast out.’ What does He mean? Israel had an abundance of revelation regarding Christ. As He said of the Old Testament Scriptures, ‘They are they which testify of Me.’ Israel had the first opportunity to hear Christ and to receive Him. While the common people heard Him gladly, the princes of the nation, ‘the sons of the kingdom,’ did not. They were the erudite, conservative, purveyors of formal, hypocritical religion. Their counterparts, the priestly class, were making astronomical amounts of money from religion by the way they ran the Temple. Thus, these people and those who sided with them, had a vested interest in opposing Christ and all He said. They would ignore all the ancient prophecies that revealed Christ. They would not believe Him or in Him. Thus, they sealed their own doom. Christ receives believers of every kingdom, tongue and tribe. Those who refuse Him, do damage to themselves.  

Our Gracious God and our Savior, 
we rejoice that You give an abundant revelation of Yourself. 
We praise You that You make it available 
to all who will receive it.  

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning