Mat 8:12 | RWP | e4.org | The sons of the kingdom ( ο υιο της βασιλειας ). A favourite Hebrew idiom like "son of hell" ( ), "sons of this age" ( ). The Jews felt that they had a natural right to the privileges of the kingdom because of descent from Abraham ( ). But mere natural birth did not bring spiritual sonship as the Baptist had taught before Jesus did. Into the outer darkness ( εις το σκοτος το εξωτερον ). Comparative adjective like our "further out," the darkness outside the limits of the lighted palace, one of the figures for hell or punishment ( ; ). The repeated article makes it bolder and more impressive, "the darkness the outside," there where the wailing and gnashing of teeth is heard in the thick blackness of night.

‏ Matthew 8:12

The sons of the kingdom ( ο υιο της βασιλειας ). A favourite Hebrew idiom like "son of hell" (Mt 23:15), "sons of this age" (Lu 16:8). The Jews felt that they had a natural right to the privileges of the kingdom because of descent from Abraham (Mt 3:9). But mere natural birth did not bring spiritual sonship as the Baptist had taught before Jesus did.

Into the outer darkness ( εις το σκοτος το εξωτερον ). Comparative adjective like our "further out," the darkness outside the limits of the lighted palace, one of the figures for hell or punishment (Mt 23:13; 25:30). The repeated article makes it bolder and more impressive, "the darkness the outside," there where the wailing and gnashing of teeth is heard in the thick blackness of night.