Children of the Kingdom - Pt2

Mat 8:5-12 KJVR
(5) And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
(6) And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
(7) And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
(8) The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
(9) For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
(10) When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
(11) And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
(12) But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(13) And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.


But what about this passage in verse 12? The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness. What? Why? Who are the children of the kingdom?

Let's look further. The phrase 'children of the kingdom' is only used one other time by Jesus:

Mat 13:37-38 KJVR
(37) He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
(38) The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

The good seed is the children of the kingdom, but a good seed that does not sprout and bear fruit – which apparently is VERY possible – is tossed out. All good seed 'is expected' to sprout into a tree that produces fruit.

If we do not produce fruit, we will be cast into the fire. That's offensive in many ways, but John said it, and then Jesus said it. That's twice, and by the testimony of two or more shall a matter be decided.

Mat 7:19 KJVR(19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Why did Jesus say this? Scare tactics? Should this be personally frightening to anyone seeking the will of God for their life? No, but we should be motivated to bear good fruit.

Let's finish with this parable:

Luk 13:6-9 MKJV
(6) He also spoke this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard. And he came and sought fruit on it, and found none.
(7) And he said to the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none. Cut it down, why does it encumber the ground?
(8) And answering, he said to him, Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and throw manure.
(9) And if it bears fruit, well; and if not, then after that you shall cut it down.

See, God is patient with us and our fruit-bearing. He intends for us to 'get around to it', but sometimes we are too stubborn. And we wonder why we have so much 'crap' in our lives. Maybe it's a last-ditch effort to get us to bear fruit.