Use Psalms 8:1, 16:2, 31:1-3a, 123:1-2, and 95:1-6
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, pondering the mysteries of “the kingdom.” He laid me down in Matthew 8. The Mind of the Spirit focused the spirit of my mind on a question regarding the kingdom that has puzzled me. It’s what Jesus said to the Jews about the Gentiles being invited to sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, while “the children of the kingdom” were cast out. It’s in Matthew 8:10-13:
Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
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.
Matthew 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This suggests that the resurrection has happened when “the kingdom of heaven” comes. Otherwise, how could anyone “Sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven”? Martha was not corrected on that point when Jesus challenged her to believe He could resurrect her brother, Lazarus, from the dead, and said, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). What Jesus did do is declare: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26).
However, does Matthew 8:11 mean “the kingdom of heaven” Jesus offered to Israel included the resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? That is the anticipated kingdom Jesus spoke of when He told His disciples He would drink the fruit of the vine with them when He returned to receive them to Himself in the last day (Matthew 26:29; 1 Corinthians 15:24).
Jesus described “the kingdom of heaven” in His parables of the kingdom (Matthew 13; Mark 4—“kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” are used interchangeably: Matthew 19:23-24). None of the parables describe Heaven’s throne or events occurring there (Revelation 4-5). Each kingdom parable describes God’s work on Earth as it will be carried out by the saints, organized in His ekklesia, in the period beginning at the Cross and continuing until He returns.
Jesus indicated that He had come to restore “the kingdom” to Israel, but that because she had rejected the King, it would be withdrawn and given to “a nation” that would bring forth its fruit (Matthew 21:33-44). This refers to “the kingdom of heaven” that began suffering “violence” with the “violent taking it by force” when John the Baptist began preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 11:11-12).
So how can anyone sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven if that expression refers exclusively to the future kingdom Jesus went to receive from His Father, which He will bring with Him when He returns (Luke 19:12-27)? And if that kingdom refers to the one into which we are now translated at the new birth (Colossians 1:13), over which Jesus presently presides as “prince of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5), exalted above all principaities, powers, and dominions now, in this world, and in the world to come (Ephesians 1:12-23), where are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that we might join them for supper?
Along the still waters, we walked and talked about these things.
Jesus lamented the rejection of “the kingdom” by His people, but not for Himself (Luke 13:34; 23:38). He mourned for what “could have been” (Luke 19: 42). It is true that their rejection was by God’s grace turned to the blessing of the Gentiles (Romans 11:11-17). Nevertheless, God’s first plan is always the best: He wanted to reach out this blessedness to the Gentiles through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 12:1-4). If He offered “the Gospel” to the Jews first (Romans 1:16), then it would have been better if they had received it (Acts 28:25-28). “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15).
Notice that the receiving of Israel will be “life from the dead.” The resurrection of the saints is scheduled for the “last day,” and that will coincide with the return of Christ and ultimately the reconciliation of Israel to Him (Zechariah 12:10; see John 19:37; Revelation 1:7).
It appears, therefore, that either Matthew 8:11 is to be understood as a reference to the “kingdom” table to which we Gentiles are invited is that table prepared by God through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or that the original offer of the kingdom to Israel included at least a partial resurrection that included these patriarchs. By the way, there was a partial resurrection that occurred after Christ arose from the dead (Matthew 27:50-53). It would be surprising if Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not among them.
After Christ’s resurrection, for forty days, Jesus taught His disciples the “things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Whatever He taught them, it did not dissuade the disciples from their expectation that “the kingdom” would be restored to Israel (Acts 1:6). Jesus did not say their expectation was invalid, but that it was pending. They would have to wait until GOD made His final determination on the matter. It was finally settled toward the end of Paul’s ministry: “the kingdom” would remain with the Gentiles until Christ’s return (Acts 28:25-28; see Luke 21:24).
Only God knows what could have been if Israel had repented nationally and received her Messiah. Because of this, “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12), continues. Perhaps Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would have returned to walk among us, as Lazarus did in his day.
In the valley, kneeling before the LORD at His nail-imprinted feet, I heard Him say to my heart: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Embrace the Cross. Failure to do so was exactly what cost Israel the kingdom, for it’s the only true path into it, and the only true path to serve its KING.
At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed as we went into the harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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