Random Questions Thread

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by shag

Luke 13
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them,
24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’
26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’
27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’
28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.
30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”



“when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.”
&
And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.

Could you please explain this, as it relates to the passages above?

Every Judean expected to "recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the prophets, in the kingdom of God", that is, they expected to live forever after Judgment Day in the "World To Come". But Jesus is pointing out that many of them will in fact NOT enjoy eternal life, but would be cast out of it. They have their expectations, and apparently would go so far as to profess some kind of familiarity with Christ. But, He will profess to not know them (meaning they had no meaningful relationship with him), and cast them out because they are "workers of iniquity".

Luke 13:27 KJV
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

The phrase "workers of iniquity" here is literally "workers of unrighteousness". They would be the people who practiced unrighteousness, much as Jesus expounded on during His Sermon on the Mount when He compared the "righteousness" of the Pharisees to true righteousness.

Three lessons are in view here:

1. Ancestry alone will not cut it. Many of the Judeans believed that because they were descended from Abraham, they qualified as his "children" and would get the inheritance. But as even John the Baptist pointed out, that was not enough:

Matthew 3:7-9 KJV
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: [9] And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

2. There would be many who would in fact inherit the kingdom of God, others who were thought of as unworthy and impossible to enter the kingdom. Not only the dispersed tribes of Israel (the "lost sheep of the House of Israel") which had been deported out of Palestine and spread abroad to the four quarters of the earth, but many other nations would partake of the blessings of Abraham. It is the intent of God that every nation, tribe, and family know Him and be blessed along with Abraham, enjoying the benefits of a right relationship with their Creator:

Isaiah 56:1-8 KJV
Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. [2] Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. [3] Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. [4] For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; [5] Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. [6] Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; [7] Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. [8] The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

3. Familiarity with Christ is not enough to inherit the kingdom of God. They claimed to be familiar with Him, suggesting familiarity with at least the basics of His teachings and His ways. But they were still workers of unrighteousness. True faith produces true obedience, true righteousness, and a lack of true obedience and true righteousness is indicative of a lack of true faith. Thus they are cast out.

Matthew 5:17-20 KJV
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.