Another thing comes out in the 8th chapter, through, the healing of the centurion’s servant, that the children of the kingdom would be cast out, and many come from the east and the west to sit with Abraham, &c., in the kingdom. The door is seen to open prospectively to the Gentiles, who are here called the “many,” in contrast with the born Jews, who are called the children of the kingdom. This confirms what we saw in the sermon on the mount, that no longer would the heirs of the kingdom be co-extensive with the nation, which was the case before and was so understood by the Jews. Now the kingdom is put morally, and so while there are Jewish children excluded, there are Gentile strangers admitted. The centurion’s faith gave the occasion for this farther development of the new form which the kingdom would assume. And now for the first time the Lord takes the title of “Son of Man.” The limits of the old sheep-fold are broken down. The Jew having proved himself unworthy, a free entrance is administered to the Gentile. But the suffering condition which was now to be the lot of those who followed Christ again comes in view, and now as a fact. For the Son of Man has not where to lay His head, worse off than the foxes and the birds. He was a houseless wanderer! What a position for the King of Glory! What grace to submit to it! What an effort of the mind to realize it, if indeed we can at all. He who is now the center of the joys of heaven, and the object of the adoration above, was once a poor rejected and scorned man upon the earth!
Under the title of Son of Man, Jesus forgives sins. And now the hatred of the Pharisees break out. “This man blasphemeth.” Devils had just before confessed him to be the “Son of God”-a testimony outside the kingdom, but which showed the dignity of His person.
And the Holy Spirit has grouped them together, than which nothing can more show, on the one hand the grace of the Son of God, and on the other, the exceeding wickedness of man. Man taking advantage of the grace of God to revile His Son!
Another feature of the kingdom is brought out in Matthew’s call; the principle of election is seen. A despised and hated publican is called, and there is the grace that always accompanies election, for Matthew immediately follows him. Others had been called before, but rather as the sub-administrators of the kingdom. Peter and the others were to be fishers of men. It was Messiah that called them. It is the Son of Man who calls Matthew.
While the kingdom as originally presented (see 3 and 4 chapters) is receding, Jesus is advancing in the path of grace, and demonstrating with increasing power who and what He is. He raises the dead, mark, after he had laid aside the title of Messiah and taken that of Son of Man. Yet even now if faith recognizes His title as Son of David there is an immediate response. The blind men cry to Him, and He opens their eyes. Blessed Jesus, now as then, faith triumphs over all difficulties, is not limited by circumstances. Thou permittest nothing to come between faith and Thee!
In the 10th chapter we have the third distinct call to the nation. The leaders had openly expressed their hatred, but the people had not yet cried out, “Away with Him!” The twelve are sent out to preach that the kingdom was nigh. Wondrous patience and perseverance of love. Even then, if they would have received Jesus, the kingdom would have come.
John the baptist cried “Repent.” Jesus also preached repentance. Now the test is confession of the name of Jesus, as the (partially at least) rejected One. Those who confessed Him, He would confess; those who denied, He would deny. The Lord warns the twelve that this message, like the two former, would be rejected. “Behold I send you forth as sheep among wolves.” As if He had said— “I know they will not receive you. You go to announce the reign of peace, but they will refuse me; and therefore as the necessary consequence, I have not come to send peace, but a sword. Families will manifest the most intense hatred among themselves, the closest ties will go for nothing. Paternal, filial, and brotherly affections cannot stand the test. The confession of my name will violently break asunder the dearest earthly connections, and he alone is worthy of me to whom father, mother, son or daughter, wife, yea life itself count as nothing. But they who prefer me to life itself shall find it.” And such is the estimate in which the Lord holds His messengers, that they who received them received Him. But persecution was sure to be met with. They had called the Master Beelzebub; the servants must expect the same treatment. But they must not be afraid. There was but one whom they must fear; Him who could cast body and soul into hell. Yet they were precious to Him The hairs of their head were numbered, and the loss of one hair through the enmity of those to whom they were sent; would be noted and judged. by Him.
Mark also, they were sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, not to the Gentiles. The message is not (I think) on purely Messianic ground. But even as Son of Man, i.e., on ground where He could receive Gentile as well as Jew, the message must go forth first, and exclusively to the Jews. So it was after the resurrection, when the whole work was accomplished, Peter preached the times of refreshing. The Jew is always foremost in the eye of God; he was foremost in rejecting Christ, he will be foremost in blessing by and bye.
Remark also a specific difference between the gospel of the ‘kingdom, and the gospel of the grace of God. This, is to the unworthy as our hearts feel, and grateful praise proclaim; that, is to the worthy (i.e., those who were so at that time), and if any were unworthy, “let your peace return to you.” They would be refused admission into the kingdom.