We conclude this series by looking at the last section of Matthew 25 which I’m going to call a parable even though it’s more of a description of the Final Judgement. I call it a parable because it uses the analogy of a Shepherd separating sheep and goats. It also has the spirit of a parable with the conversations had between God and the two groups. One group is told that they provided food, drink and clothes to Christ and one group is told that they withheld food, drink and clothes from Christ. Both groups ask the same question: When did we do this? Jesus’ response is that if they had done it for one of my brothers, you’ve done it to me. This brings us to our 7th and final observation about what divides these two groups.
The Sheep and the Goats
- The Sheep are Compassionate. The Goats are indifferent.
Again we should tread carefully because we are certainly not saying that by feeding and clothing the poor that this will give us entry into heaven. Again, we are looking at marks of those who have set their love and their faith on Christ. Love for Christ makes us compassionate to those who bear his image. The words of the Apostle John in his letter come to mind, “How can you love God who you have not seen and hate your brother whom you have seen.” It is impossible to Love God and withhold compassion to those in need. John goes on to say that if you see your brother in need and withhold the very things that he needs when it is in your power to do so, “how does the Love of Christ dwell in you.” In other words, it doesn’t. So, the final mark of those who will inherit Eternal Life is their compassion for others.
One important note here is to identify everyone’s most desperate need which is the Gospel. Men, we don’t share the Gospel to recruit men to our club or our social group or because we think we’re somehow superior or better. Our motivation for sharing the Gospel should be out of compassion. Every man, woman and child is born into sin and under the Wrath of God. Their only hope of escape is through the vehicle of the Gospel. They cannot believe unless they hear, and they cannot hear unless we are willing to open our mouths and tell them.
Final Thoughts
- The King is away. The Bridegroom has been delayed. The King, while he is returning has not returned yet. While the master is away, there is time to repent. There is time to invest. There is time to wake up and work. There is time to go buy oil. God is merciful and has granted all of us space to repent and come to the acknowledgement of the truth and to place our faith in Christ.
- The King will Return. In Matthew 24 Jesus says that the Return will come in a day when people least expect, and that life will continue as normal. People will be eating, drinking and marrying. Our tendency is to think that that day will never come but one day the King will interrupt life as normal and in that moment time will be up. Personally, our time is up on the day and moment of our death. In that moment we will experience a personal return of the Master.
- There will be those who are surprised and shocked that they are excluded from the kingdom. In many of these parables there are always a group that knock at the door and hear, “I don’t know you.” The 5 foolish virgins knock only to be turned away. The goats in the last parable say, “when did we see you?” This should cause us to be ever evaluating our walk and relationship with Christ. Peter tells us in his epistles to examine ourselves to make sure that we are “in the faith.”
- There are 2 groups and 2 very different destinations. These groups either are granted access to the wedding feast and eternal joy or cast out into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. People will either enjoy eternal life or eternal torment depending on whether they have trusted in Christ or not. Those who have demonstrated certain markers. In the end, we can’t get this wrong. Eternity is at stake, for you, me and all of humanity.
May we be about the business of the Kingdom, faithfully telling other of the good news of the Jesus Christ. May those that hear our Gospel proclamation have ears to hear. May they be made alive by the Spirit of God so that on that day when the King returns, they too will hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of your master.”
