Sheep Goats 16 August 200 Embry Hills Jesus
Sheep & Goats 16 August 200 – Embry Hills
Jesus’ Closing Teaching (Matt 24) Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down. ” 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? ” … 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
Six Lessons on Waiting… (Matt 24 -25) 1. Like the days of Noah (24: 37 -42) • Ordinary Events (38 -39) • Some taken, some not (40 -41) à[Ignore the ordinary] and watch (42) 2. Coming of a thief (24: 43 -44) • When “you do not expect” àBe ready—at the least likely times 3. Servant-ruler over a household (45 -51) • Given responsibility for the care of others (45 -46) • Choice: Obey, or abuse others & indulge in pleasure (47 -48) àWork now, don’t use the “delay” for negligence & sin
Six Lessons on Waiting… (Matt 24 -25) 4. Wise and foolish virgins (25: 1 -13) • Waiting for the bridegroom, who was “delayed” (5) • The foolish did not bring enough oil (7) àLive as if the wait could be long (25: 13) 5. Money (27) given to servants by their Master (25: 14 -30) • A large sum given, while on a journey (“far, ” 14; “long time, ” 19) • Choice: trade/invest to increase the value [over time] or do nothing • Not to invest is “wicked” and “slothful” àInvest in the future that will take place before the end of time.
6. The Final Separation (Matt 25: 31 -46) • Glory, angels, “Son of Man, ” throne, all nations (31) • Two-way division, “like…sheep & goats” (32) • Verdicts pronounced (34, 41) • Explanation: based on service to the King (35, 42)
Questions Raised by the Teaching 1. Does Jesus’ explanation describe the entirety of the Gospel? • Are men judged only based on meeting physical needs of others? … • No matter what they believe or practice religiously or morally (other than benevolence)?
Typical Modern Interpretation “Thus for Jesus the only distinction between men that ultimately matters seems to be not whether they are churchgoers or non-churchgoers, communists or capitalists, Catholics or Protestants or Jews, but do they or do they not love - love not in the sense of an emotion so much as in the sense of an act of the will, the loving act of willing another's good even, if need arise, at the expense of their own. ‘Hell is the suffering of being unable to love, ’ said old Father Zossima*… Just as Jesus appeared at his birth as a helpless child that the world was free to care for or destroy, so now he appears in his resurrection as the pauper, the prisoner, the stranger: appears in every form of human need that the world is free to serve or to ignore. ” Rev. Frederick Buechner, Frederick Buechner Center Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) * Father Zossima, is an old monk in Dostoyevsky’s, The Brothers Karamazov
Questions Raised by the Teaching 1. Does Jesus’ explanation describe the entirety of the Gospel? 2. Does this account of the Judgement describe salvation by works and condemnation for lack of works?
What is the Message of Matthew? Matt 18: 11 – “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. ” Matt 9: 6 – “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. ” Matt 26: 28 – “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ” Matt 28: 18 -19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. ” Matt 10: 34 -39 – Jesus’ coming brings conflict and suffering…
The Social Impact of the Gospel (Matt 10) 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. ’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
A Closer Look at the Works “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. ’” (Matt 25: 40) Matt 12: 46 -49 – While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You. ” 48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers? ” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother. ”
A Closer Look at the Works “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. ’” (Matt 25: 40) Acts 9: 3 -5 – “As he [Saul] journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, why are you persecuting Me? ” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord? ” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. ”
A Closer Look at the Works “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. ’” (Matt 25: 40) Matt 10: 40 -42 – “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. ”
Service in Jesus’ Name (Heb 6: 10) “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ”
Who are the Goats? • Punishment 24: 51 – “Cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ” 25: 12 – “I do not know you. ” 25: 29 – “Outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ” 25: 41 – “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ” 24: 45 – “Go away into everlasting punishment. ” • Note that: • The message was privately delivered to the disciples (24: 3). • The disobedient were those in fellowship with the Master. • Jesus does not divide them as “sheep and wolves”. Could we be a goat?
Surprise! • Not by how they were divided • But at: 1. The significance Jesus places on service to the “least” of His brethren. 2. (The sheep): that they are worthy to sit at Jesus’ right hand for so little done in life.
- Slides: 16