Daily Bread 10-29-16
Matthew 8:11,12
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.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
ref - Isa 2:2,3 - And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Isa 11:10 - And in that day there shall be a root of Jes'se, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the gentiles seek: and his rest be glorious.
Luk 13:29 - And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
Matt 21:43 - Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Luk 13:28 - There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
Jesus was speaking of the rulers of the synagogue and God's chosen people, the Jews, when he gave this rebuke. They would not listen to the voice of the Lord, they refused what Christ had brought them, even though it was a pure offering from God. They could not cross over the threshold in their faith from always seeking for the messiah and having him in their midst. Seemed that, in a sense, the journey was more important to them than the destination. In this, the ones who had been exposed to the Gospel which Christ had brought them, and refused it were given a promise; They would see Abraham, Isaac. Jacob, and all the prophets in glory but would be on the other side of the fence in eternal darkness and burning. This was the downfall of the greatest people that God had created and they were replaced by those who would believe and follow Christ. We could say that this was the fault of the Jews, and in part it was, but what a great opportunity for us. There were the originals(Jews), and the replacements(us). The prophecy that God would pour his blessings out on strangers to the covenants and people from the north, and from the south, and from the east, and from the west, has come in the fact that we are all given the opportunity to be God's chosen people today through our adoption in Jesus Christ! This gives us the greatest reason to rejoice and be faithful! He has taken us from a place with no hope and no opportunity to a place with all hope and unlimited opportunity!! But beware, and do not mistreat this great gift that God has given us in faith in Christ. For if he took it from the very people that it was tailor made for, we cannot think that he will not take it from us if we lose our faith. If you read the rest of the story, it says that his people(Jews) will be coming back to him. So, for this brief moment in time, we are they who God has chosen to be his own!! We are the ones who have been selected to carry out his work on this earth. Following Christ and being obedient to his commandments, living a life that is an example to those who do not know him. The Gospel and scripture is true, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, but which side of the fence will you be on? Draw closer to God in Jesus Christ and no matter what the problem, the issue, the trial, the sickness, have faith that in Jesus Christ all things will be done according to God's will!! Trust Him, he knows what he's doing!! Have a great day!!!