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"But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness.” (Matthew 8.12a).This line from Jesus’ response to the Centurion in Capernaum reveals a great deal about the nature of the Kingdom. We will develop this line of thought as we continue to glean from the four great truths contained in Jesus’ dialogue with this Centurion.

Concerning the above quotation, A. T. Robertson comments that sons of the kingdom is “…A favourite Hebrew idiom like ‘son of hell,’ (Matthew 23.15) [and] ‘sons of this age.’ (Luke 16.8). The Jews felt that they had a natural right to the privileges of the kingdom because of descent from Abraham. (Matthew 3.9). But mere natural birth did not bring spiritual sonship as the Baptist [John the immerser] had taught before Jesus did.” Robertson’s comments are “spot on!” More specifically, John said to the hypocritical leaders who approached him, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” (Matthew 3.8-9). God’s desire was not for sons of a physical nature; His desire was and is for sons of a spiritual nature. These sons are born only by means of the new birth (John 3.3 & 5). When God made man, He could have created a billion men that looked just like Adam – but He didn’t. His desire was for man to choose the good and reject the evil. When men make that choice, God is glorified and sons are birthed into His spiritual kingdom.

This truth, the truth that God’s Kingdom is a spiritual one, is a truth that many still miss today. All premillennialists miss the point as do all who hold that God will set up a physical kingdom on this earth and rule with a rod of iron over His subjects! God could have ruled with a rod of iron to begin with but that was NEVER His intent! He rules in the hearts of men as they willingly yield their wills to Him. The Psalmist referred to this method of rule when, speaking for God, he wrote, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.” (Psalm 32.8-9). God is glorified when His subjects willingly bow the knee to Him, when they are “guided by His eye” as opposed to a physical constraint such as must be done with a horse or mule!

The sons of the kingdom as spoken of by Jesus were the rebellious leaders who occupied Moses’ seat in Jerusalem. They were rebellious in heart and mind while calling on the name of the Lord. Such is not obedience! God is not looking for men who verbally profess that they know Him; He is looking for men who confess Him by their attitudes and lives (see Titus 1.16). The sad reality of this matter was this: These sons of the kingdom were apostates who would not be satisfied until they had made each follower “twice as much a son of hell” as themselves (see Matthew 23.15).

The third great truth in Matthew 8 and the story of the Centurion is that the Kingdom of Heaven is a spiritual kingdom. Further to this point, it is through the submissive hearts and minds of His followers that He rules and by which He is glorified! Don’t try to demote the Christ by putting Him on a literal earthly throne!!

Questions:

1. How did John say God could raise up descendents to Abraham? Was this literally true?

2. When God made man in His own image, He made him a being of choice. Why will God never violate the right to choose with which man was endowed at the beginning?

3. Read Titus 1.16. What good does it do to profess with the lips but deny with works?

4. Why do apostate sons of the kingdom not rest until they have converted others to their way of thinking and made them twice as much a son of hell as they are themselves?

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

Longing For God