"But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 8:12
NKJV - 12 "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
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The children of the kingdom are the Jews, Israelites i.e. the natural posterity of Abraham. Christ's forerunner, John the Baptist heralded or announced the coming king and his kingdom (Matthew 3:1-3). Matthew 10:1-6 gives the account of Christ commissioning the 12 disciples where he instructs them in v. 5-6 "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." In Matthew 15:24 Christ responded to a Greek lady by saying: "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel". During The Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem the crowd shouted "Hosanna" (Matthew 11:9-10) yet only a few days later they cried "crucify him" (Luke 23:31). Matthew 27:25 "Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children." And so it has been for almost 2,000 years. The Lord used the same phrases "outer darkness" and "gnashing of teeth" in Matthew 22:13 & 25:30. I believe "outer" means away from and the "darkness" refers to spiritual blindness and absence of divine knowledge and wisdom. "Gnashing of teeth" is what will be experienced in the eternal state of misery and suffering by those who have rejected the the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. " It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31)
I agree with Colin Wong who answered a similar question on this web site, saying that the children or subjects of the kingdom are the children of Israel. And as far as why there will be gnashing of teeth, I checked out a book from my local Southeast Wisconsin library by Dr. Ron Rhodes. It was published in 2017 and is entitled, Bible Prophecy Answer Book. Dr. Rhodes said, "People gnash their teeth when they are angry. They will be angry at the sin that brought them to hell, angry at what they’ve become, angry at Satan and demons for their temptations to evil in earthly life, and angry over having rejected their ticket out of hell—salvation in Jesus Christ."
All who are justified by faith in the death of Christ will be in heaven, but there are some Christians who go further and seek an intimate sacrificial daily walk if faith. This is Sanctification, the process of learning intimate trust and friendship with God. Sanctification is not required for entry to heaven. But only those faithful followers whom are intimate with Father will be invited into the wedding ceremony and given crowns of responsibility to reign with Christ. I believe the saved can be roughly divided into 2 groups, wedding guests or bridal party. It is useful to compare this reference to the ten foolish virgins who knew the bridegroom but did not live a life in constant faith and trust. I think both groups went to the wedding, ten as a bride and ten as the guests. There is an area of Temple referred to as outer darkness. It is outside at the rear in separated quarters rather like basement storage space. A bit like sunday school but nit in the worship service. Here, those Christians who believe in messiah but have never really lived as overcomers, committed to a life of trust moment by moment and getting to know God intimately, such Christians who are trusting for their salvation but not living in the Kingdom daily by faith will be told in heaven "leave my presence those who never sought my face nor kingdom on earth and go to boot camp to continue as you were, I was never central to your life on earth so out of my sight till you learn to be faithful overcomers"
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