The Weekend Word

Matthew 25:31-46

The Final Judgment

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

• First point is that Jesus is the judge.
• Second point – yes I guess it’s true in opposition to all those who would say Jesus is not coming back – Jesus IS coming back as he promised.
• Note how the Creed has it right as it states properly – “Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.”
• We need to pay attention – even people like me and you live as if this will not happen.

³² Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

• More separation Jesus style. Jesus is thought of as a great ‘uniter’, but he is by far a better divider.
• Note the ‘all nations’ and how that connects to Matt 28. We are to make disciples of all nations – and we see in Revelation the redeemed of all nations, tribes and languages.
• Note that the separation is made before any judgment is announced. This troubles many that see the last day judgment and the result of it based upon our works and our behavior.
• In fact it is not at all. The separation takes place and there are those who believe in him and those who do not.
• Sheep = Believers — Goats = Unbelievers
• Wise Virgins = Believers – Foolish Virgins = Unbelievers
• Faithful Servants = Believers – Unfaithful Servants = Unbelievers
• Proper Wedding Garments = Believers – Improper = Unbelievers
• Wheat = Believers — Weeds = Unbelievers
• Wise Builders = Believers – Foolish Builders = Unbelievers.

³³ And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

• This separation to the right and left is solely based on faith.
• Blessed – just like the Beatitudes
• How much work does one do to be in line for an inheritance? None
• The inheritance = the Kingdom was prepared for YOU from the beginning – not potentially for you – but in reality for you.

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

• Note that Jesus only commends those on his right.
• They are living the life of faith that can allow only good works to flow through.
• These sheep are sinners and Jesus does not mention anything about forgiving them – Why?? Because they are already forgiven at the cross and it is applied to us in our baptism.

³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

• Note the total surprise – ‘what are you talking about Lord?’
• This is the sign of living life by faith alone – it does not do work looking towards reward. It just continually produces fruit and is not aware.

³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

• Do you have this same lack of awareness towards your good works?
• If someone approached you and said – the other day you really blessed me – would your response be “when did I bless you? – How?
• Or would it be “I am glad you noticed.” Or “what to so long for you to thank me?”

⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers you did it to me.’

• From faith in Jesus works will naturally flow and the works done are pleasing in God’s sight because they come out of faith.
• We will see a little later that those who do not believe in him, the goats did not do works that were pleasing in God’s eyes – therefore it’s like they were (1) never done and (2) never done onto Jesus.
• Looking at John 15 (which we will not do here) – the branch / vine etc.
• The braches connected to the vine bear fruit – in fact much fruit.
• What of those who are not connected to the vine – to Christ? They simply do not bear good fruit.
• Now this is the point for all of us – we see Christ in the neighbor – it also shows us that believers (I will refrain from saying ‘true’ believers) do not trust in their works for either salvation or sanctification…
• Not even to get into heaven.
• See how this ties in to the previous parable ‘well done good and faithful servant.’ Who has simply taken what was given and made use of it.

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

• We get a couple of things here – #1 Jesus seems to be upset with people.
• People are told that they are cursed and to depart from God – no negotiations, no ‘I hate to do this guys, but please leave.’
• People get sent to hell – which is eternal – and we find the origins and purpose of hell.

⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

• Jesus runs them through the same list but on the negative side.

⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’

• Note the similar surprise as those on his right. Not the “when did we do this?” but the “when did we see you”
• There objection was “Lord if we had seen you we would have taken care of you – but all we ever saw were the unwashed masses, who got in the way of our Scripture studies looking for messiah.”

⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

• But we all know that we see Christ in our neighbor – or we should know.
• Just remember, God does not need nor want our good works – but our neighbor does.

⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

• You really have to twist words and meaning to deny hell and deny the fact that it is eternal.
• Based on the language, if heaven and all its glory is eternal, then hell and its punishment must be so.