What Did I Do
What Did I Do?
Matthew 25:31-46
November 14, 1999
Goal: That the hearer’s faith is strengthened through Word and Sacrament and then revealed in works of Christian love.
The judgment scene of our text is disturbing, distressing, and opens the door for distortion and misunderstanding. It raises the question, Am I a “sheep”? Certainly, we all hope so! Or, Am I a “goat”? We surely hope not! If we listen to everyday chatter there are plenty of old goats around. But that is not what Christ is talking about. The text ultimately forces us to ask ourselves, “What Did I Do?” Am I a “sheep” or a “goat?” What will the Lord say to me when He comes in His glory to judge all people? Will He say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world?” Or will He say, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels?”
Two Kinds of People
The coming judgment will reveal that there are only two kinds of people in the world: believers and unbelievers—those who accept the Word of God and those who reject it. But there’s nothing in-between. This means that I am either a believer in the truth of God’s Word, or I am an unbeliever. I can not be both, for Jesus says, “he who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”
Can I change sides and switch from unbeliever to believer? Change is possible, but only now—before the end comes. For when it comes, it will be too late. Scripture declares, “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). That’s the point of this strange, unearthly judgment scene. We must see that now is the time to repent and turn to God for help. Now is the time to let go of our works and look to his to live.
Sheep and goats
The “goats” are separated from the “sheep” in that very moment. They will be gathered on left of the eternal shepherd. They have no part in the blessed pronouncement about to be given to the sheep, “Come!” Why are they separated. Listen to the judgment, “I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” But, the goats just cannot believe they have never done anything for the Lord. They are appalled by His accusation. They reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” The point is this, the goats are those who think they have done something to boast about. They trust in the works they have done.
So again we ask the question, “What Did I Do?” To the sheep, this is a very sincere question. It is not some mocking outward display of humility. It is honest and from the heart. The sheep really surprised by the words, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (vv 34-36). The point is this. True believers are those who have no trust in themselves or their works. Instead, their trust is in the one who says, “Come!”
Faith Revealed by Works
When Jesus comes again in glory, he will reveal the faith of his followers by their works. But, let’s get and keep this biblical truth straight: works save no one. Jesus Christ alone does. Yet works are important, for faith never stand alone. Perhaps this statement will help you remember. Works are the “fruits” of faith, not the “roots” of grace. If you plant an apple tree, you have every right to expect apples—not walnuts. When there is faith, there’s always a corresponding action in works. Paul makes that clear in the Epistle as he writes, “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted y love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. … And so you became a model to all the believers” (1 Thess 1:3, 7).
So what about this? Would a loving God, a good, kind, gracious king really send people to hell? The good news is, no, he doesn’t! The bad news is, man does it to himself by trusting someone, or something else, other than God. And that God calls idolatry.
Of course, we all want to hear the words, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (v 34). But, what did we do to inherit the kingdom? The truthful answer is “nothing.” We did nothing to deserve this eternal blessing. It is not our work, but His work, in and through the person of His own Son Jesus Christ, that we receive the inheritance. How can that be? Doesn’t the King point to the works of the sheep as the reason for their entrance? Yes, He does. But never overlook the truth that these works are the natural fruit of true faith. True faith presumes no goodness in self or in ones own deeds.
A Kingdom of Glory
The “kingdom” is life eternal with God in heaven forever. It’s already prepared and kept safe through faith in Jesus Christ. No wonder Paul exclaims, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph 1:3-4). What did we ever do to deserve it? Nothing! It’s only by the loving, forgiving grace of God in Jesus Christ. It’s only because He chose to put aside his godly powers to become a faithful servant to God in every way, even the way of the cross that we have hope. It is only because He took upon himself our laziness and unworthiness and nailed it to the tree that we have forgiveness. It is only because He was raised to life, never to suffer and die again, that we have new life. It is only because He has said to us, “Come! Follow me,” that you and I can respond in faith and be gathered together with Him. It is only because He is not ashamed to be called our brother and friend, that we have a relationship with God. It is only because of Jesus Christ who has done all that we have not in our place, that we can say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”
Therefore, let us be wise and not foolish. Let us not wait until the day of judgment to ask “What Did I Do?” Then it will be too late to ask, for the answer will have been given: “you did” … “you did not do.” The judgment will clearly reveal whether the faith of Christ’s followers was real or not. Thank God, “then” is not yet. Thank God, that He still comes to us in love and grace, in Word and Sacrament, to forgive, to strengthen, and to lead us in the way everlasting. Thank God, we can daily draw on the power and strength God supplies through the means of grace. Thank God, we can now see what Christ Jesus did and is still doing for us. Thank God, because He has prepared a place for us in His Kingdom. So, “Come.” Not to ask, What Did I Do? But to see His blessing fulfilled in you. Amen.
