SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:11
Mas yo os digo que vendrn muchos del oriente y del occidente, y se sentarn a la mesa con Abraham, e Isaac, y Jacob, en el Reino de los cielos;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 8:11
Verse 11. Many shall come from the east and west] Men of every description, of all countries, and of all professions; and shall sit down, that is, to meat, for this is the proper meaning of anakliqhsontai, intimating the recumbent posture used by the easterns at their meals. The rabbins represent the blessedness of the kingdom of God under the notion of a banquet. See several proofs of this in Schoettgenius. This was spoken to soften the unreasonable prejudices of the Jews, which they entertained against the Gentiles, and to prepare them to receive their brethren of mankind into religious fellowship with themselves, under the Christian dispensation. With Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob] In the closest communion with the most eminent followers of God. But if we desire to inherit the promises, we must be followers of them who through faith and patience enjoy them. Let us therefore imitate Abraham in his faith, Isaac in his obedience unto death, and Jacob in his hope and expectation of good things to come, amidst all the evils of this life, if we desire to reign with them.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west , etc.] On occasion of the faith of the centurion, who was a Gentile, our Lord makes a short digression, concerning the call of the Gentiles; and suggests, that what was seen in that man now, would be fulfilled in great numbers of them in a little time: that many of them from the several parts of the world, from the rising of the sun to the setting of it, from the four points of the heaven, east, west, north, and south, as in ( Luke 13:29) and from the four corners of the earth, should come and believe in him; and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven : signifying, that as the Gospel would be preached in a short time to all nations, many among them would believe in him, as Abraham, and the rest of the patriarchs did; and so would partake of the same blessings of grace with them; such as, adoption, justification, pardon of sin, and the like; for they which be of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham, ( Galatians 3:9) now, under the Gospel dispensation, though Gentiles; and shall enjoy with him the same eternal glory and happiness he does, in the other world.
Which shows, that the faith of Old and New Testament saints, Jews and Gentiles, is the same; their blessings the same, and so their eternal happiness; they have the same God and Father, the same Mediator and Redeemer, are actuated and influenced by the same Spirit, partake of the same grace, and shall share the same glory. The allusion is to sitting, or rather lying along, which was the posture of the ancients at meals, and is here expressed, at a table, at a meal, or feast: and under the metaphor of a feast or plentiful table to set down to, are represented the blessings of the Gospel, and the joys of heaven; which are not restrained to any particular nation, or set of people; not to the Jews, to the exclusion of the Gentiles.
Our Lord here, goes directly contrary to the notions and practices of the Jews, who thought it a crime to sit down at table, and eat with the Gentiles; (see Acts 11:3) and yet Gentiles shall sit at table and eat with the principal men, the heads of their nation, in the kingdom of heaven, and they themselves at the same time shut out.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-13 - This centurion was a heathen, a Roman soldier. Though he was a soldier yet he was a godly man. No man's calling or place will be an excuse for unbelief and sin. See how he states his servant's case. We shoul concern ourselves for the souls of our children and servants, who ar spiritually sick, who feel not spiritual evils, who know not that whic is spiritually good; and we should bring them to Christ by faith an prayers. Observe his self-abasement. Humble souls are made more humbl by Christ's gracious dealings with them. Observe his great faith. The more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidenc in Christ. Herein the centurion owns him to have Divine power, and full command of all the creatures and powers of nature, as a maste over his servants. Such servants we all should be to God; we must go and come, according to the directions of his word and the disposals of his providence. But when the Son of man comes he finds little faith therefore he finds little fruit. An outward profession may cause us to be called children of the kingdom; but if we rest in that, and have nothing else to show, we shall be cast out. The servant got a cure of his disease, and the master got the approval of his faith. What wa said to him, is said to all, Believe, and ye shall receive; onl believe. See the power of Christ, and the power of faith. The healin of our souls is at once the effect and evidence of our interest in the blood of Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S δε 1161 CONJ υμιν 5213 P-2DP οτι 3754 CONJ πολλοι 4183 A-NPM απο 575 PREP ανατολων 395 N-GPF και 2532 CONJ δυσμων 1424 N-GPF ηξουσιν 2240 5692 V-FAI-3P και 2532 CONJ ανακλιθησονται 347 5701 V-FPI-3P μετα 3326 PREP αβρααμ 11 N-PRI και 2532 CONJ ισαακ 2464 N-PRI και 2532 CONJ ιακωβ 2384 N-PRI εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF βασιλεια 932 N-DSF των 3588 T-GPM ουρανων 3772 N-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. Shall sit down (anakliqhsontai). Lit., recline. The picture is that of a banquet. Jews as well as Romans reclined at table on couches.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
8:11 {Sit down} (anakliqesontai). Recline at table on couches as Jews and Romans did. Hence Leonardo da Vinci's famous picture of the Last Supper is an anachronism with all seated at table in modern style.
