I. That the number of the saved shall be great. “Many.” Might expect the contrary from aspect of society. God has secret servants.
II. That the large company shall be made up of men from all nations. “From the east and west.”
III. That all these persons shall be united in heaven in society. “Sit down together.” The happiness of heaven will not be solitary; it will not be without union.
IV. This change takes place in heaven. Must not take earthly conceptions of this celestial state; it is a state connected with God.
V. We may infer something with regard to the nature and completeness of the happiness that will be enjoyed by the saints in glory,
1. Rest. “They shall sit down.”
2. Sovereignty. They shall sit on thrones as kings. (J. W. Cunningham, M. A.)
The connection
Christ receives applications from all sorts of characters. The centurion-conscious of personal unworthiness-concerned for his domestics-unbounded confidence in the capacity of Christ.
I. The exulting prophecy. Implies that God is no respecter of persons (Isa_45:6; Isa_59:19; Mal_1:11); that many shall be saved; that heaven is an exalted state of felicity, rest, and social intercourse, etc. (Ch 25:10, 26:29; Luk_14:15; Luk_22:30 : Rev_19:7-11). Loyal submission to the King, enjoyment of His presence, admiration of His glories; laud and magnify His name.
II. The agency by which it shall be effected. Manifold-chiefly by the preaching of the gospel (1Co_1:21); adapted-to every stage of human society, to every order of mind, and to every moral condition; efficient-the power of the Holy Ghost, awakening, convicting, etc. (1Th_1:5, &c.). “All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (A. Tucker.)
Bigotry must not limit the number of the saved
Thereadiest way in the world to thin heaven, and replenish the regions of hell, is to call in the spirit of bigotry. This will immediately arraign, and condemn, and execute all that do not bow down and worship the image of our idolatry. Possessing exclusive prerogatives, it rejects every other claim-“Stand by, I am sounder than thou. The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we!” How many of the dead has this intolerance sentenced to external misery, who will shine like stars in the kingdom of our Father! How many living characters does it not reprobate, who are placing in it all their glory! No wonder, if under the influence of this consuming zeal, we form lessening views of the number of the saved: “I only am left”-yes, they are few indeed, if none belong to them who do not belong to your party-that do not see with your eyes-that do not believe election with you, or universal redemption with you-that do not worship under a steeple with you, Grin a meeting-house with you-that are not dipped with you, or sprinkled with you! But hereafter we shall find that the righteous were not so circumscribed. (Jay.)
Hen then converts
Mosheu, an African chief, visited Dr. Moffat at Kuruman. The missionary availed himself of the opportunity to speak of the “one thing needful,” but without apparent effect. After some time Mosheu repeated his visit to Kuruman, bringing with him a very large retinue. He was agonizing to enter the kingdom of God. “When first I visited you,” he said to Dr. Moffat. “I had only one heart, but now I have come with two. I cannot rest; my eyes will not slumber, because of the greatness of the things you told me on nay first visit.”
Heaven and Hell
I. A glorious promise.
1. It is a land of rest-“sit down.”
2. The good company they sit with, “Abraham and Isaac.” etc.
3. Man?Ishall come. I have no wish for a small heaven; many mansions.
4. Where they come from-from all places and classes, even the most hopeless.
5. The certainty “shall.”
II. The children of the kingdom cast out.
1. Those noted for externals in religion.
2. The children of pious fathers and mothers.
3. They are to be cast out. Where to?(C. H. Spurgeon.)
The heavenly state
1. Many, will be there. What are “ many “ in the Divine authentic? Must not lower the standard of admission.
2. The imagery that of a banquet, the attitude assigned to the assembly. Nest and repose after labour and conflict.
3. The celestial citizens are to know one another, else it would little avail to sit down with Abraham, etc. The meeting-place of generations. (H. Melvill, B. D.)
The wonderful M.
The Countess of Huntingdon used to say, “She thanked God for the wonderful letter M, for it turned ‘any’ into ‘many;’ thus the Word of God reads, ‘Not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble are called’ (1Co_1:26), therefore she could be found amongst the ‘not many.’” The wonderful “M” shows forth the extent of God’s grace. Man does not enter heaven by virtue of his poverty or his riches, sufferings or rejoicings, morality or immorality, but by virtue of the atonement and the shedding of the precious blood of Christ. None can rightly say, “I have had so much trial and trouble down here that I am sure God will provide a place for me;” nor can they say, “I am so noble, and have such power in this world that I surely must have a place above.” God is no respecter of persons. All, whatever their station or circumstances, find but one entrance into eternal glory, even through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-the only door, the one way, by which alone any can be saved,
The children of the kingdom
I. By the children of the kingdom are intended the Jews, who were God’s peculiar people.
1. God was in an especial manner their King. He revealed Himself as their King and Saviour. He fought against their enemies.
2. As a king He laid down laws which they were to follow.
3. They were not only subjects of the kingdom; they were to be children of it.
4. The justice of that sentence, which, after their ejection, deprived the children of the kingdom of their glorious inheritance.
II. How were they cast into outer darkness.
1. They were withdrawn immediately from that which is light even on earth-the enjoyment of God’s grace, and the enlightenment of His Holy Spirit. This was outer darkness of soul.
2. They were driven into the darkness of sorrow and affliction.
III. The cause why this happened-their unbelief. We are now the children of the kingdom; have God’s laws written in our hearts. (J. Garbett)
