Jesus said to them,
“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you."
(Matthew 21:31)
these tax collectors and harlots entering the kingdom were also Jews.
so who was it really taken from? did they cease to be Jews by entering?
it was taken from the flesh children of Israel and offered to all nations born of the spirit in order to create a people for God he promosed remember that
he would create a new people from all nations
he promised to create a new Jerusalem with new people who would give him new praise from
New hearts
“For, behold,
I create new heavens and a new earth: and
the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
But
be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.”
Isaiah 65:17-18 KJV
“
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. But
thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.”
Isaiah 43:21-22 KJV
“And
I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.”
Jeremiah 24:7 KJV
when he made the promise to David David promised he would
Make God a house to deell
In and would command the people to obey the lord . But Gods response to David was that he didn’t dwell
In houses made by men but he was making David a city and making David a people and he was making them a new home a new promised land that God would build and not man
the New Testament is about God creating new people for the new creation he’s created
the promise Isaiah for a new creation is what the gospel is about its the means by which Isaiahs prophecy is made true
The gospel is creating the people of Gods kingdom believers are the new people and non believers are the ones it’s taken from like Israel’s flesh children who rejected Gods son
the kingdom is something we reject when we reject Jesus and the gospel when we accept it it’s us being drawn into the kingdom becoming children of God , citizens of his kingdom , followers and disciples of his son