Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 8:11

"And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven:" — Matthew 8:11 (ASV)

Many shall come from the east, etc. Jesus takes occasion, from the faith of a Roman centurion, to state that this conversion would not be isolated: many Gentiles—many from the east and west—would be converted to the gospel and be saved, just as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were.

The phrase "from the east and from the west," in Scripture, is used to denote the whole world (Isaiah 45:6; Isaiah 59:19).

The phrase shall sit down, in the original, refers to the manner of sitting at meals (see the commentary on Matthew 23:6).

The enjoyments of heaven are described using the imagery of a feast or banquet—a very common way of speaking of it (Matthew 26:29; Luke 14:15; Luke 22:30).

It is used here to denote felicity, enjoyment, or honour. To sit with those distinguished men was an honour and would be expressive of great felicity.