Why Are The Children Of The Kingdom Cast Out?

Answer: Thank you for the question Doug.

For all intents and purposes, the children of the kingdom are the children of the promise. Historically, this pertained to the Israelites, (Romans 9:4).

However, with the advent of Jesus, anyone could become a child of the kingdom, and a child of the promise through their acceptance of Jesus Christ, (Act 2:39, Eph 2:17-19, Gal 3:7, 28-29). As the Bible declares, “whosoever will” can become a child of the kingdom, (Revelation 22:17).

So why are the children of the kingdom, “the good seed” that Christ planted cast out of it?

They are unprofitable for Jesus.

The Good Seed Are Cast Out Of The Kingdom

Turn your Bible with me to,

Matthew 8:12
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Alright, we have that.

Now, let’s read the next verse that you asked about.

Matthew 13:38
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,” being the children of the kingdom were sown by Jesus, (Matthew 13:37).

The tares were sown by the Devil, (Matthew 13:39).

So verse 38 denotes, two types of people in the world.

1. There are Christians who give ear an to Jesus, along with those who truly follow Him.
2. Then, there are the wicked of the world. Those who give an ear to Satan, habitual sinners, murders, false prophets, and so on. These are the tares who will perish, unless they change their ways, (Matthew 13:40, 49-50).

However, everyone who gives Jesus an ear does not necessarily follow Him.

We see this all the time, right?

There are many, many professing Christians who say they are, but their works do not reflect it. These people are not wicked, but they are “unprofitable servants.”

Turn your Bible with me to,

Matthew 25:30
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We just read what happened to one of the servants in the parable of the talents.

As we can read, some of “the good seed” are not profitable for Jesus.

This example also ties into the chaff that is burned with “unquenchable fire,” (Matthew 3:12, 13:30, 43).

As Scripture explains, this unprofitable servant took his talent, and buried it in the ground. This servant claimed to serve Jesus, but he never really did. He had the claim of the good seed, the claim of the kingdom, but he couldn’t obtain it.

He simply failed to do the will of God, (Matthew 7:21).

Moreover, you will find this ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’ also mentioned in Matthew 13:42, 50, 22:13, 24:51, and Luke 13:28. These unprofitable servants are like the five virgins who ran out of oil, they too were left in outer darkness, (Matthew 25:8-13).

Yet, we find another piece of the puzzle…

The Kingdom Is Given To Those Who Do God’s Will

In Matthew 8, a Gentile Roman Centurion displayed “great faith.” So great, Jesus had not witnessed anything like it among all the Israelites. As you know, during the time of Jesus, God’s promises did not yet pertain to the Gentiles.

Jesus would say of the Centurion’s “great faith.”

Matthew 8:11
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.

Coming from the east and west denotes foreigners.

Matthew 8:12
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As we learned earlier, the children of the kingdom were indicative of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

Yet, Jesus was telling the Centurion, that he and other Gentiles, foreigners, would come from the east and west, from all over the world. They would come and “sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”

The Gentiles would become a child of the kingdom through their faith in Jesus Christ. This made them a part of Abraham’s family, and a child of the promise, (Galatians 3:7, 29, Ephesians 2:11-22).

Prior to Christ’s sacrifice, this would have been an abomination.

Now, listen to what Jesus tells the Israelites…

Matthew 21:43, 45
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

The chief priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees were Israelites, (Matthew 3:9, John 8:37, 56).

Some of them were wicked, most were certainly unprofitable servants.

Nevertheless, Jesus said, the kingdom will be taken away from them. Also, taken away from “the good seed,” taken away from the children of the kingdom, and “given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”

Given to those who produce real fruit for God.

All Israel Shall Be Saved

It is only when we understand these things, that we can begin to understand other passages in the Bible.

Scripture explains, “All Israel shall be saved,” (Romans 11:26).

Yet, we already know even Israelites will be cast into outer darkness.

So how can all the Israelites be saved?

Think about this…

If someone is from the Tribe of Levi for example, does that mean they should be saved, due to their blood, without faith?

Absolutely not.

It’s not until you remember,

Galatians 3:28-29
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Also: Romans 4:13-16

If we have accepted Jesus, then we are Abraham’s seed. If we do not accept Jesus, then we are not Abraham’s seed. Race has nothing to do with it. This tells us, God’s chosen people are Christians, those who accept Jesus Christ, and living according to the Bible.

That is how, “All Israel shall be saved.”

That is why, “They are not all Israel, which are of Israel,” (Romans 9:6). “Israel” of course being the new name of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, (Genesis 32:28).

Summary

Today, “the good seed,” the children of the kingdom are Christian people, even God’s chosen people. Yet, those who are unprofitable for God will be cast into outer darkness.

If our faith is simply superficial, with no real meaning or depth. If we are not living according to the Bible. Then when Jesus Returns, or we return to our Father, we will be one of those saying,

Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 7:21-22

And then Jesus will,

Profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 7:23

If we do not remain profitable for God, we will be cast out, and have no part in God’s Kingdom.