Sorted and Separated

Context

Jesus is ending this extended teaching on the end times

This discourse all started after he was asked a three part question

In the beginning verses of Jesus makes a claim that the temple would be destroyed

This troubled his Jewish disciples and they assumed he ment at the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord

So they asked him when these things would be, what would be the sign of his coming and the sings of the end times

We have looked how Jesus responded to this question and found that his teaching should still be followed in this matter today

Most recently we went over the parable of the virgins and the parable of the talents

Discovering that we should always be ready for the coming of Christ

And that we shouldn’t squander the gifts, talents, and opportunities God gives us to build his kingdom

So far, it seems that the parables have focused on those within the kingdom

The virgins would be apart of the bridal party thus connecting them to the Bridegroom

The servants are already working for the master when he entrusts them with his investments

In our focus scripture today, Jesus brings everyone into the final judgment and sorts them into two groups

But before we get to that we ought to read the scripture and seek to understand it (as best we can) as the original hearers would have understood it

So this time we will look at the entire scripture, clarify some things to get a better understanding of it, and then apply it to our lives

English Standard Version Chapter 25

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

Son of Man - Jesus’ favorite title for himself

Jesus speaks of a future time of when he will come into his glory and sit on the throne

This happens at the cross ; his death, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension

We know this but at the time of this teaching that hasn’t happened yet

The disciples will remember these events and teachings and write them down (Bible) as they connect all these dots

English Standard Version Chapter 25

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

All nations - This is a way to say EVERYONE from EVERYWHERE; no one is opted out

Both sheep and goats had purpose and value, but sheep had much greater value than goats

Goats and sheep grazed together but goats were more susceptible to colder weather so the shepherd would need to sort and separate for the cooler evenings night

Placing the sheep on the right was another sign of value

Most people were right handed and conducted important things this their right hands

In some instances using your left hand could come across as offensive as less clean things were often ascribed to the left hand

Also we see that those on the right receive a blessing

Why?

He totally blurs the line between Son of Man, the King and the Father

English Standard Version Chapter 25

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

Hospitality was highly regarding in that day and culture

Feeding and entertaining were obligatory

It would be offensive not to take care of a guest

The greater the gues

And if the guest was really important and not taken care of the offense would be great

That is not very shocking to those hearing Jesus

These were already expectations

But it is important to note that Jesus increases the burden of this cultural norm by including strangers into the mix and also prisoners

Amongst these people there was no obligation of hospitality

What is perplexing to the hearers is that they didn’t recall doing these things for the King

In other words,

The King responds with when you did it for my people you did it for me

ILLUSTRATION

We can somewhat relate to this concept as parents

When someone goes out of there way to make sure my baby girl is fed, they might as well be feeding me

When someone looks out for my daughter and protects her, they might as well be doing it for me

When someone makes sure that my son gets his medicine, they might as well be doing it for me

This king feels that way

But he also doesn’t appreciate it when his people are not taken care of, especially when those around them had the capacity and opportunity to meet their need

English Standard Version Chapter 25

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. 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.’ 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?’ 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.’

This is similar to the contrast of the wise vs the foolish virgins in the earlier parable

The sheep are compared to the goats

The ones on the right against the ones on the left

Lets compare

Two Groups

Notice that there are only 2 groups

There is no middle

No place to wait and see how it all plays out

There are sheep and goats

Remember that the nations represent everyone

So everyone is sorted and separated into two groups based on how they treated the LEAST of these

Lets test ourselves against God’s Word; how are we doing?

Are we sheep or goats

When ________ was....

Think about one person you cannot tolerate

Perhaps its someone from the work place

Or a certain family member that always gets the good things while leaving you the bad

Maybe the person that hurt you; physically or emotionally

In your mind fill in the blank with their name

When __________ was...

Hungry - Can you say I fed ________

Or, I didn’t notice

Thirsty - Can you say I gave ________ a drink

Or, they can find their own well

A stranger - Can you say I welcomed _________

Or, _________ doesn’t want my welcome

Don’t they?

Naked - Can you say I clothed _________

Or, ________ doesn’t need my help

Sick - Can you say I cared for __________

Or, I am kind of glad. ________’s been getting around too good for too long

In Prison - Can you say I visited _________

Or, _________ is there because they deserve to be there

Test yourselves against scripture

What if you saw __________ as the King or as a child of the king

You don’t have to like the king’s child to take care of him

You’re not doing it for the child

You’re doing it for the king

This is how Jesus wants you to see that person;

Trust me, he knows who deserves to be in prison

and who hurt you

or wronged you

or has the ability but refuses to go after it

or who is sinning and what their sin is

He will deal with that, I promise you

But how will you be separated and sorted?

English Standard Version Chapter 25

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

NOTE: this is a rough skeleton to export to PP

Goats

Goats