“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42)
Do we see Jesus when we see someone in need? If we say we are a Christian now, if we believe that Jesus gave his life, so that we can have the hope of eternal life, then how would we not help Jesus in need? Jesus says the way we need to do that is to help those we come across who find themselves in need.
Matthew 25:31-46, Care for Others
Aim: To embrace being a follower of Jesus by living out care for his family.
Assessment Day
A couple of months ago, my son went to an ‘assessment day’ for a job. The company were looking to expand and hire a number of people, so there were over twenty people invited to the assessment day. In the morning, they were given various team exercises with assessors watching how the applicants acted and behaved as part of a team trying to solve different problems.
Then at lunchtime something shocking happened. The group were split into two and taken to different rooms. The group my son was in were told you are through to the next stage of the process. In fact, depending on how you do at interview, we may employ all of you. What about the other group? They were being sent home with no hope of getting the job. Lunchtime it turned out had been a key moment in the day when the candidates had been divided between those sent away and those welcomed into the next stage.
Thankfully, my son did eventually go on to get the job.
In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus’ teaching consistently emphasises that there will come a moment when the world will be separated in two. Between those welcomed into his heavenly kingdom and those who are sent away.
Now in this last major section of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew’s gospel, the separation at the end of time is highlighted once more, but with a twist!
A Short Parable
This section is often called the parable of the sheep and goats. Indeed, in verses 32b-33, the image of a shepherd separating sheep and goats is used as a metaphor for what Jesus is teaching here.
It was again a typical scene in the rural life of first century Palestine. At the end of the day, the shepherd brings his flock home. In the flock are sheep and goats. At night the goats preferred to be taken inside to keep warm, whereas the sheep preferred to be in the fresh air. So, it was necessary for the shepherd to separate them each evening.
Jesus uses this image as another way of illustrating the division when Jesus returns, but although the structure of the section is like a parable, unlike most parables, the metaphor drops away and we have more of a simple description of the judgement at the end of time.
Yet, the shepherd, sheep and goats, gives us the framework in which to think about the parable and its meaning. Let’s begin by looking at the shepherd.
The Shepherd
The Awesome King
Let’s start by looking at the first verse of this section:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.” (Matthew 25:31)
Jesus has consistently referred to himself as the Son of Man and here as he describes the end of time to his disciples, he places himself in the very spot you would expect to see God: in glory, with angels on the throne.
Just consider the enormity of what Jesus, this first century, Jewish Rabbi is claiming for himself. Unlike, Buddha or many gurus down the ages, he is not simply claiming to have found the best way to live, but to be the one who will judge all who have lived. Unlike, Moses or Mohammed, he is not simply claiming to be bringing messages from God, he is putting himself in the place of God.
If Jesus was a fraud, he was the most audacious fraud of all time. Yet, what happened in the week after this claim proves that Jesus was not a fraud. Although the authorities had him crucified for making such claims, God raised him from the dead. These audacious claims were backed up by an even more audacious act, his death and resurrection!
This is the shepherd in the parable, the Son of Man. He is the awesome king of kings and lord of lords.
- So, have you truly grasped the real identity of Jesus? As we prepare for the carol singing season, when we will sing phrases, like
“He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,”
“Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,”
“God of God, Light of Light… Very God, Begotten, not created:”
Will you truly reflect on the true majesty of who it is we as Christians are called to follow? What kind of amazing king we are called to serve?
The Shepherd Identifies with his Sheep
And yet although Jesus starts this section with an incredible self-description, the great twist of this section is that the Shepherd fully identifies with his sheep.
At the end of time, Jesus is judging the people by how they have treated him. Whether they have served him or not. But the twist comes in verse 40 and is repeated in verse 45:
“”The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'” (Matthew 25:40)
Notice, that Jesus is identifying himself with his family. He is saying that the way you treat my family, is the way that you treat me.
Who are his family? Those who are his disciples, who choose to follow him and live his ways. In other words, other Christians. Earlier on he said,
“Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.” (Matthew 12:48-49)
This idea of Jesus identifying with his family also occurs when Jesus appeared to Saul, who was to become Paul, on the road to Damascus. Saul had been persecuting the Christians. He couldn’t persecute Jesus he had died, risen and ascended to heaven. Yet, when Jesus appears to Saul he says:
“”Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4)
- We’ll come back to this key point of the parable, when we think about the sheep and the goats, but first let’s just reflect on the encouragement that this should give us as Christians of the privilege of being in Jesus’ family.
Jesus, who is the King of Kings, who will one day judge the whole world, identifies fully with us. To such an extent that when people fail to care for us, he will take it as failing to care for him.
In short he sees us. He sees when people hurt us, he understands and identifies with our suffering and is with us in our grief. When the world does not seem to care, we can know that Jesus, the lord of the whole universe does care, does see and will ultimately do something about it.
Surely, that must be an incredible encouragement to us as Christians.
The Sheep and Goats
So, we’ve thought a bit about the Shepherd. Let’s now turn to the sheep and goats.
The Test: True Faith, the Church and Service
Firstly, there is an assessment going on as the division between the sheep and the goats is made. The sheep, often symbolise he people of God, stand for the true Christians who are placed on the right hand of the shepherd, the place of honour. These are described as, ‘the righteous.’
On the other hand, the goats are placed on the left hand of the shepherd. They are given no description.
Now, the breeds in that place at that time looked very similar to each other. It was not easy to tell apart the goats and the sheep. The only way to tell was to check the tales. The sheep’s tale goes down, whereas the goat’s tail points up.
In the description at the end of time, the division is not made on the basis of people’s tails, but on how they have treated Christians, those who are part of the family of Jesus.
There are two obvious objections at this point.
- Why is it just how Christians are treated and not all people?
- Is Jesus preaching salvation by works and not faith?
Why care for Christians and not all people?
Let’s start with the first question: “Why is it just how Christians are treated and not all people?” For many people this is not what the parable is teaching at all. Surely, Jesus cares about how we treat all people. Isn’t everyone a child of God and part of his family?
Those things are both true. Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and to love our neighbours, which he makes clear in the Parable of the Good Samaritan includes loving our enemies. Even if you agree with me that Jesus is talking about how we care for other Christians, we also need to acknowledge that we do not always know who the Christians are or indeed, who may become a Christian, so in practice the encouragement to care for all remains.
Yet, I think it is important to see here Jesus’ emphasis on the family of Christians. It is fashionable today to say, “I love Jesus, but I hate the church.” But this parable teaches that if you love Jesus, you have to love his church. Jesus identifies so closely, with his followers, so much so that you cannot claim to be a follower of Jesus and not engage with his family. That does not mean just turning up on a Sunday morning, it means building relationships of care and support and mutual service as part of the family of Christ. If we make this parable just about caring for others, then we miss the important point Jesus is making about being part of his church.
Of course we are to serve and care for all people, but we have an especial responsibility to those in the church, just as we have a special responsibility to those in our earthly families. As Paul says,
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
(Galatians 6:10)
Is this salvation by works not faith?
So, what about the second question, “Is this salvation by works not faith?” The parable emphasises the active service or lack of active service as the reason they are welcomed into God’s kingdom or sent away. The list of six acts of service is repeated four times each. Clearly for Jesus, these practical acts of service really matter.
The Bible and Jesus are also clear. We are saved by faith, not works. As soon as we turn to Jesus our sins are washed away and we have complete forgiveness and a secure place in his eternal kingdom.
Jesus is also clear that newfound faith, if it is a true faith, will also show itself in newfound attitudes. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved to do good works. If our lives do not demonstrate the fruit of good works, if we do not show the kind of care, Jesus describes here, then we have not really found the saving faith we need.
Jesus puts it clearly in Matthew 7:
“Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:17)
True faith will show itself in the good fruit of service to fellow Christians.
The Destination: Blessing or Curse
All of this really matters, because of the eternal consequences. Jesus makes this abundantly clear in this final section of his teaching. There is a final separation.
Those who have truly believed are blessed. They are welcomed into the kingdom. They receive eternal life.
Those who do not are said to be cursed and told to depart from Jesus into eternal punishment, the punishment reserved for the devil and his angels.
Ultimately, the choice is to follow the devil in rebellion against God and share his punishment of being shut out from the blessings of God or of following Jesus in the way of faith and service to others as part of a church family and looking forward to a glorious welcome into His glorious kingdom.
The choice may seem stark, but it is the one that Jesus presents to us again and again in Matthew’s gospel. Which will you choose?
St. George's Church Ramsgate 