Post by Mark on Nov 7, 2009 5:08:31 GMT -8
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. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Mat 8:11-12)
This text is used in a number of Christian circles to declare that true faith in God is offered to the gentiles apart, and by some, to the exclusion of the Jewish people. It is unfortunately taught from some extreme pulpits as an outright condemnation of the Jewish people- that Jews cannot be saved.
There are a couple of problems with this, forgetting that the entire Bible (Old Testament and New Testament) was written entirely by Jews (not Jewish guys who converted to Christianity but
teaching, Sabbath keeping, Temple going, tassel wearing Jews)… God’s covenant promises (old and new) are offered to the Jewish people (Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:8, 13). If this were to be the case, no one told the apostle Paul, who identified the God Whom he declared as "the God of this people Israel" (Acts 13:17). If the Most High God has utterly rejected the people Israel, then He has a truly sadistic sense of humor: for on the gates of the eternal city will be written each of their twelve names (Revelation 21:12).So, what was Messiah saying and what did He mean in declaring that the children (of Abraham) would be left out and the gentiles given seats beside the Patriarchs? And why were those who were following Him (presumably Jews) okay with it, or at least not prepared to stone Him for such anti-national rhetoric?
If they were truly seeking the Messiah of God, promised through the Scriptures of old, His rebuke would likely spark consideration of prophecy from
:They have moved me to jealousy with [that which is] not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with [those which are] not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
(Deu 32:21)
In perspective, what Messiah was basically saying is that when the gentiles see what you refuse to see, and claim what you refuse to claim, they will be granted the gifts and blessings of that faith. And you, the children of promise, will see it and be frustrated by it.
So, why should this message not be scandalous to the people of Israel? It is because it is not the end of the story.
Rejoice, O ye nations, [with] his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, [and] to his people.
(Deu 32:43)
In seeing God’s blessing upon the gentiles, Israel will be reminded of her relationship with God: that the promises are hers and waiting. If this is what God offers to people who are not called by His name, not chosen as His own offspring, how much more are His blessings freely available to His children. She shall return to her Lord and King, and Jew and gentile together will worship the Lord our God.
