Keys of the Kingdom 27

Here is a most interesting text in our consideration of what Jesus means by “kingdom.” It is interesting because, though it is not strictly a Jesus/kingdom text, it sheds light: Matt 8: 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”.

1. The Q parallel at Luke 13:28 does not have “sons/subjects of the kingdom.” It is probable, though never close to certain, that Matthew has added this expression. So, we gain a clue to what Matthew (at least) means by the expression “kingdom.”
2. The point of this text is that Gentiles respond and fellow Israelites do not respond to Jesus.
3. The “subjects of the kingdom” are most likely, then, Jewish contemporaries of Jesus who are not responding to him. (Very consistent stance on Jesus’ part here.)
4. But this means that kingdom subjects can be banned from the future kingdom.
5. Which means in some sense that Jews are subjects of the kingdom (of some kind) but may in the end not be in Jesus’ kingdom.