Many will come from east and west and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness on account of their faith (or lack of it). Such statements issuing forth from Jesus appear rather harsh to the children of the kingdom (understood not only as the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but also as those who have been beneficiaries of God’s revelation). Jesus uttered the above words after witnessing one of the greatest displays of faith. It was a display that not only caught Jesus off-guard, so to say, but also won his admiration. Jesus uttered the words, not to put down or disparage the children of the kingdom, but rather to give them a challenge. Jesus had observed how the children of the kingdom took for granted their election. He had observed how they had failed to live their election as God’s chosen ones, and how they had turned it into a source of pride (cf. John 8:33, 39, 41). It is this pride that blinded them so much so as to prevent them from recognizing in Jesus of Nazareth the anointing of God. It was this pride that made it difficult for Jesus to perform mighty deeds in their land (cf. Matthew 13:58). As the elected people, they had to take their seats beside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, paradigms of true faith in God. But with God’s revelation open to all the nations, they needed to be aware that the seats now belonged not only to them but rather to Abraham’s descendants in faith.