28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrown outside.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
When you shall see Abraham The Jews bore no resemblance to the holy fathers, and had no right to boast of being descended from them: yet nothing was more customary than to abuse the title of the Church. [1] Christ here assures them, that a bastard race, which has departed from the faith and piety of the fathers, has "no inheritance in the kingdom of God," (Ephesians 5:5.) There is a silent but implied reproof, that those who were desirous to have companions in seeking salvation, did not endeavor to associate themselves with Abraham, and the prophets, and the holy fathers, instead of looking around among their contemporaries, who had degenerated greatly from their example into innumerable corruptions. "If you neglect (says he) to enter by the strait gate, because you are kept back by the great number of those who are going astray, do you not see that you are separated from the number of believers, and become involved with unbelievers?" If the aspect of the world now dazzles your eyes, the last day will cure you of this folly, but it will be too late: for you shall then know that you, and others like you, are excluded from the kingdom of God, and have no part with Abraham
1 - "Et avoyent tousjours en la bouche le titre d'Eglise, duquel ils abu- soyent;" -- "and had always in their mouth the title of Church, which they abused."
See the notes at Matthew 8:11-12.
Abraham, and Isaac, etc. - See on Matthew 8:12 (note), where the figures and allusions made use of here are particularly explained.
(8) There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out.
(8) The casting off of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles is foretold.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth,.... See Gill on Matthew 8:12. This will be upon hearing the above sentence and character, "depart from me", &c. and will be increased,
when ye shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: whose offspring they were, and to whom they stood related according to the flesh; and of descent, from whom they boasted, and even trusted in it, thinking themselves the favourites of heaven, and expecting to be admitted into the kingdom of God, on account of it: sad will be the disappointment of such persons; a being born of religious parents, will neither give right unto, nor meetness for eternal glory; regeneration is not of blood:
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God; whose prophecies were transmitted to them, and whose books they had in their hands, and read; and who desired to see and hear what they did, and which they now plead, and yet they did not enjoy, but were nevertheless happy: and
you yourselves thrust out: with indignation and contempt, with shame and "ignominy", as the Persic version adds; not suffered to go in with them, though their sons and successors; but bid to depart, and ordered to be for ever separated from them, as only fit company for devils and damned spirits.
(See Matthew 8:11-12). Also see on Matthew 13:42.
Ye shall see Abraham. See notes on Matthew 8:11-12.
*More commentary available at chapter level.