The Sons of The Kingdom

In this short article, I would like to look at what seems to be a blatant contradiction in the word of God. However, since God is sovereign and omniscient, any apparent contradiction is simply the result of our lack of understanding. We will demonstrate that by interpreting scripture through a proper paradigm makes all the difference. Consider the following statement.

The Old Covenant kingdom (Judaism) and the sons of that kingdom (Israel after the flesh) were but a type and shadow of the New Covenant kingdom and the sons of that kingdom (Israel according to promise), in Jesus Christ.

We will demonstrate in what follows that unless we apply the above paradigm to this apparent contradiction, we will be left confused and without remedy. Below is the apparent contradiction:

Mathew 8:11-12
I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Mathew 13:30,38,43
“…as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom… but gather the wheat into my barn… Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Do you see it? Notice the following…

In Mathew 8, the sons of the kingdom are cast out into outer darkness.

But, in Mathew 13, the sons of the kingdom are the good seed that are gathered into the kingdom-barn.

Therefore, the sons of the kingdom are BOTH cast out into darkness, and gathered into the Kingdom of God.

How is this possible? Well, if both texts refer to the same “sons of the kingdom” then it’s not, it’s is impossible. However, once we realize that “Abraham had two sons”, and use that truth as a prophetic paradigm, then we can begin to unravel this mystery. Let’s begin.

Galatians 4:22-26,
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother…. And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the freewoman.”

It is important that we understand exactly what Paul is teaching if we are to understand the words of Jesus in both the above texts. Notice the following from Galatians 4.

Abraham had two sons, which represented the two covenants.
These two sons and their respective covenants represented two covenant-kingdoms (Jerusalem and New Jerusalem)
Only one of Abraham’s sons – the sons of the New Covenant in Christ – would receive their father Abraham’s inheritance.
The other son – representing the sons of the Old Covenant – would be cast out and cut off from the inheritance.

We must see the “sons of the kingdom” in Mathew 8 and Mathew 13 as representing these two sons of Abraham. When we do, what was once contradictive becomes complimentary.

Let’s read the Mathew 8 text again.

We can see Jesus’ “two sons” doctrine when we notice that Mathew makes a distinction between “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” and the “sons of the kingdom”. Remember, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were sons of the kingdom, and that’s the point. Both groups – the wicked and the righteous – are sons of the kingdom.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob represent the Isaac-seed of Abraham, the “sons of the kingdom” who would inherit the kingdom of heaven. These were the faithful remnant of Old Covenant Israel who had both died in genuine faith, and who were then presently receiving Jesus as their Messiah.

On the other hand, the “sons of the kingdom” who would be “cast into outer darkness”, represent the Ishmael-seed of Abraham. These were the unfaithful majority of Old Covenant Israel who had both died without genuine faith in a coming Messiah, and who were then presently rejecting Jesus as their Messiah.

We must understand that at that present time, both these groups were “sons of the kingdom”, and they represented both (two) sons of Abraham. But, as Paul so beautifully demonstrates in Galatians 4, only one son would receive the kingdom-inheritance promised to Abraham. The other, would be “cast out” with the Old Covenant to which they clung.

So, the sons of the kingdom in Mathew 8 represent the Ishmael-seed of Abraham. Though they were in fact “sons of the kingdom” (being sons of Abraham), they would soon be “cast out” into outer darkness, separated from Jehovah as a covenant people. But, the sons of the kingdom in Mathew 13 represent Abraham’s other son, they are the Isaac-seed.

These were “good seed” indeed. They were Jews and sons of Abraham according to the flesh, but through faith in Christ as their Messiah, they were being transformed into a new people – a New Covenant people – who would produce the fruit of the kingdom of God. (2 Corinthians 3:11-18, Mathew 21:43-45)

This is how the “sons of the kingdom” could be both the wheat (good seed) and the tares, how they could both inherit the kingdom and be cast into outer darkness, how they could be both the wicked and the righteous. The righteous remnant, were the good seed – the Isaac seed – w What a perfect plan. ho would be gathered to their Messiah to inherit the kingdom. The unfaithful of Israel were the sons of bondage – the Ishmael seed, son of the Egyptian – who would be cast out of the kingdom of God, and have the kingdom taken from them (Mathew 21:43-45)

What this means is that Mathew 8:11-12 and Mathew 13:24-43 are parallel texts which are teaching the same thing – the destiny of two sons. This also means that they would be fulfilled at the same time, and through the same event.

I’m convinced that Luke 21 prophesies the fulfillment of both texts, and teaches us exactly when they would be fulfilled. Remember, the unrighteous sons of the kingdom were identified with Old Covenant Jerusalem (Galatians 4:25), and the righteous sons of the kingdom were identified with the New Jerusalem and the kingdom of God. (Galatians 4:26,30-31)

Luke 21:6,20-23,27-28,31-32
As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.… But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people…. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.… So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.

In the context of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70 (vs.6,20), we see the following:

The “days of vengeance” and “great distress and wrath” upon Israel (vs.22-23). This is the unrighteous sons of the kingdom being cast into outer darkness at the casting out of their Old Covenant kingdom.
The kingdom of God and redemption being received by Israel (vs.28,31). This is the gathering of the righteous into the Kingdom of heaven for the inheritance-banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

And according to Jesus, all this would take place at his “coming” (vs.27) within the lifetime of his disciples – their generation (vs.32). This would be in fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies. Amazingly, but not surprisingly, both Jesus and Paul’s “two seed” doctrine was prophesied in their Old Testament scriptures.

Isaiah 65:8-15
Thus says the Lord, “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it,’ so I will act on behalf of My servants in order not to destroy all of them. “I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and an heir of My mountains from Judah; even My chosen ones shall inherit it, and My servants will dwell there. “Sharon will be a pasture land for flocks, and the valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for My people who seek Me. “But you who forsake the Lord, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune, and who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.” Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Behold, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry. Behold, My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. Behold, My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. Behold, My servants will shout joyfully with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart, and you will wail with a broken spirit. You will leave your name for a curse to My chosen ones, and the Lord God will slay you. But My servants will be called by another name…. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.

Notice the what was foretold in Isaiah’s prophecy. First, there is the promise to preserve the chosen remnant.

“… So I will act on behalf of My servants in order not to destroy all of them… even My chosen ones shall inherit it, and My servants will dwell there”

Then we see the distinction and contrast between the wicked and the righteous sons of the kingdom.

“My people who seek Me. “But you who forsake the Lord…”

“My servants will eat, but you will be hungry…”

“My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty….”

“My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame….”

“My servants will shout joyfully with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart…”

And finally, we have the casting out of the unrighteous sons of the kingdom.

“You will leave your name for a curse to My chosen ones, and the Lord God will slay you”

And the Kingdom – the New Creation – being received by the righteous sons of that kingdom.

“But My servants will be called by another name…. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…”

In closing, I will leave you with this.

Jesus was sent as a minister to the Jews to confirm the promises that Jehovah had made to their fathers under the Old Covenant (Romans 15:8). In Mathew 8:11-12 and Mathew 13:24-43, Jesus was confirming to the sons of the kingdom that Isaiah 65 was about to be fulfilled. And in Luke 21, if we have ears to hear, Jesus promised the faithful remnant of Israel that Isaiah 65, Mathew 8:11-12, and Mathew 13:24-43 would be fully accomplished within their lifetime.

Therefore, it came to pass just as the Master had promised. Both of Abraham’s sons received their reward. The unrighteous sons of the kingdom were cast out and cut off as a covenant people, and the righteous sons of the kingdom received the kingdom of God as the inheritance of their father Abraham.

Today, and for the last 19 plus centuries, there is only one son of Abraham and one son of the kingdom. His name is Jesus, and those in him are the sons of the kingdom. Rest assured, when scripture is interpreted through the proper paradigm, there will be no contradictions.

Dan Dery
Titus 1:9

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