The Children of the Kingdom.
By Mary Welch
A CORRESPONDENT asks: “What is meant by the children of the kingdom being cast out into outer darkness? Also, Will the children, after sitting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom, be cast out? Matt. 8:11, 12.” We read a few verses previous to this what occasioned these words of our Saviour. He found greater faith in this Roman (a Gentile) than in his own people Israel. It is very evident that the children of the kingdom here referred to are the Jews. They were the chosen people of God, the seed of Abraham, the father of the faithful, to whom was made the covenant of promise. Gen. 15:18; 17. They bolstered themselves up with the belief that they, being the natural children of Abraham, were heirs of the kingdom. Their wicked works had disqualified them to claim the promises God made to the children of Abraham. Jesus means to say, not that the children of the kingdom after sitting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be cast out; but, on account of their hardness of heart, and, finally, their rejection of Christ as the Messiah they which were not of the seed of Abraham should sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob, while they which were of the seed of Abraham should be cast out. “Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Matt. 21:43. Also John 1:11; Acts 13:46.