Things That Jesus Said - Part III
Who are the Sheep, Who are the Goats?
By Brian Knowles
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his article has a theme text. It is found in Matthew 25:31- 46. It reads as follows:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,
He will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
All the nations will be gathered before him,
And he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.
Then the King will say to those on his right,
‘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.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘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 needed clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For 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.’
They will answer, ‘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?’
He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Then they will go away to eternal punishment but the righteous to eternal life.”
We don’t find this teaching - in this form - in any other Gospel. It’s only found in Matthew. It is one of the most powerful, and perhaps frightening, teachings in the New Covenant collection. It bears reading over and over again - dwelling on every convicting word. When we allow these words of Jesus to sink down into our hearts, they both explain something very profound, and they open up a reality about the divine personality that many - even in the Church - may not have grasped.
Jesus refers to himself as the “Son of Man.” In this context, he seems to have taken it from Daniel 7:13-14. These verses are describing a glorified, supernatural Messiah in his full radiance and power. He is accompanied by tens of thousands of angels. When these sayings of Jesus are fulfilled, no one will doubt that he is truly God’s Anointed One.
The word “nations” here is the Greek ethnos - from which we get the term “ethnic.” The Hebrew word behind ethnos is goyim = meaning gentiles or nations. What is being described here is the judgment of all non-Jews or non-Israelites. There is no evidence here that Jesus is referring to Christians or to Israel. It’s just the non-Israelite people of the world to whom he’s referring.
Yeshua then characterizes himself as a shepherd who separates sheep from goats in his mixed flock (v. 32). Note the symbolism of right and left hands - the sheep are on the right. Now consider Psalm 110:1: “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” This is the most quoted verse in the Old Testament. It appears 18 times in the New. In Mark 12:36, Jesus said that David was speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit when he wrote this. It is a picture of God’s Anointed One - Yeshua - sitting at the right hand of God. In turn, those with whom Jesus is to share his kingdom will also sit at his right hand. The right hand is the hand of use, of instrumentation. Just as Jesus is God’s instrument, the “sheep” that are placed on his right hand will be his instruments in the Kingdom. The term “separation” in Matthew 25:32 is a metaphor for judgment.
Now read John 5:25-30. [Author’s note: Since this article was originally prepared as a sermon in which the passages would be read aloud, it is recommended that the reader read each passage cited.] Here we see a two part resurrection - one to life, the other to condemnation. In Matthew 25:34, those on his right inherit the kingdom which has been in ongoing development from the beginnings of history. It was always God’s intent to share power with those to whom he could entrust it. We were born to rule. Paul writes to Timothy of a “crown” which all of the righteous will inherit: II Timothy 4:8.
In Jesus teaching here (Matthew 25), he is speaking of the righteous drawn from the ranks of the world at large - from the goyim or nations. As I said earlier, these do not seem to be Jews or Christians but righteous gentiles.
Revelation 2:8-11 again refers to the crown which all of the righteous will inherit.
Returning to the Matthew pericope (literary unit), we find out what qualifies some people as sheep and others to be rejected goats. Why do some of these gentiles inherit the kingdom? Why are they called “Blessed of my Father”? Is it because of the way they have treated God’s people - whomsoever those may be. (As it says in II Timothy 2:19, “The Lord knows them that are his”.) This is a powerful point, the importance of which can’t be over estimated. Reread Matthew 25:35 -36. Note the word “for.” It’s important. It explains the reason some are blessed and others are cursed in the judgment. Jesus uses the first person here for a reason. What bad people do to Israel, or to the Church, they to the Messiah. God, and Jesus, take it personally. In the judgment, the Lord will avenge the abuse of his people. What anyone does to God’s Jewish or Christian people, they do to God and Christ.
Beginning with Abraham
Interestingly, this principle was established in Abraham’s time. “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation [Israel] and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you,” Genesis 12:1-3.
As I said, when anyone comes against God’s people - be they Israel or the Church - God takes it personally. This principle is confirmed throughout Scripture. Note the first instance of it in verse 17 of the same chapter. The Pharaoh had confiscated to himself Sarah, Abraham’s wife. God immediately reacted on Abraham’s behalf, confirming the principle we just read.
When Isaac (Yitzak) blessed his son Ya’acov - Jacob - he said these words: “May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed,” Genesis 27: 29b.
This is a working principle: God blesses those who bless his people, and he is against those who are against his people. Study the following passages: Numbers 24:1, 9; Psalm 105:13-15; Deuteronomy 7:15; Psalm 121:1-4. God’s eyes are always on Israel.
Holocaust Museum
If you visit the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem - Yad Vashem - you will see a separate memorial honoring “the righteous among the nations” - the gentiles who helped the Jews during the Holocaust. (Yad Vashem means “a name” and it comes from Isaiah 56:5). These righteous gentiles came from 44 different countries and nationalities. Some were Christians, some were even Muslims and still others were agnostics. People like Corri ten Boom and Shindler of Shindler’s List fame are there. They took great personal risks to save Jews from the murderous insanity of the Nazis. I believe they will be included among the sheep on Jesus’ right hand in the judgment.
Let’s return to Matthew 25:35. Why does Jesus consider some gentiles sheep and others as goats? Verse 35: “For,” as I said, is a very important word here. Note Verses 36-40. These are righteous gentiles - people who met God’s people at their points of need -- good people who did good works.
The lesson here is: How we treat God’s people - be they Jews or Christians - is how we treat God or Christ. And that’s true even if we are a part of God’s people -whether we’re Jewish or Christian - will affect how Jesus will view us in the Judgment.
Acts 9:1-5 - to persecute the Church is to persecute Jesus himself. Saul operated in what Jews sometimes call “the zeal of Phinehas” (cf. Numbers 25:6-13). There is a Jewish tradition of zeal - see also Genesis 34 re Dinah and I Kings 18:4. But zeal without knowledge, as Paul himself later pointed out, can be a very destructive thing (Romans 10:2).
Now return to Matthew 25:41-46. Failure to meet the needs of God’s people when those needs are in your face and you could help is a “sin of omission.” “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins,” James 4:17.
The first listed fruit of the Spirit of God is love (Galatians 5:22). Jesus said that the whole Bible is about how to love God and neighbor: Matthew 22:36-40. The term “law and the prophets” is a shorthand way of referring to the TaNaKh - Torah, Nevi’im and Ketuvim = the Instruction, the Prophets and the Writings - the Old Testament. If someone asks you what the Bible is about, tell them it’s about how the love of God can be shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Love is about meeting people at their points of need. It’s about leaving the part of the world over which we had influence - no matter how small that part may be - a little better than we found it -- our children, our family, our workplace, our church.
It’s about loving people back to health, well-being and wholeness. It’s about relieving pain and suffering - saving good people from wicked ones: “Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed, rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked,” (Psalm 82:3-4). It’s about freeing people who are in bondage - setting captives free. It’s about doing the things that Jesus taught and did. It’s about being merciful and forgiving people. It’s about loving and honoring our parents, our grandparents and our children. Loving Christ means solving problems, fixing broken lives; caring when no one else does. It means being a good Samaritan when possible.
Paul on Good Works
Read Galatians 6:1-10. This is a beautiful elaboration on what it means to “do good.” Paul begins this section with what to do when you catch a fellow Christian in a sin. I know how many “carnal Christians” would react: they would instantly begin to gossip and float rumors - exposing the sin. They would, perhaps unwitting, begin the process of destroying the reputation of the person or people involved. Once something gets into the rumor mill, it’s deadly.
Or, they might gloat and take satisfaction in the fall of others. It might make them feel good to see that a brother or sister in Christ has feet of clay.
Some might use knowledge of another’s sin as power over them -- something of which to take advantage - perhaps even blackmail them.
Paul explained that a spiritual person doesn’t react that way. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted,” (v. 1). In Proverbs we read, “Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love covert all sins,” (Proverbs 10:12).
The way to help a sinner is not to expose, embarrass and humiliate him, but to gently restore him to the godly way. Privately, take him aside, and offer to help. Lead him, if possible, to repentance. Pray for him. Be his strength until he finds his own in Christ.
Carry Other’s Burdens
Jesus reminded us, “The poor you always have with you,” (Matthew 26:11). Proverbs tells us, “The poor are shunned even by their neighbor, but the rich have many friends. He who depises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy…He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God,” (Proverbs 14:20-21, 31).
Notice again the theme that how we treat the poor is how we treat God. As I said earlier, God takes it personally.
In Philippians 2:3-4 we read, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Do we want to hear Jesus say in the judgment, “You didn’t care about anyone else - you cared only about yourself,”
What’s the takeaway from this article? The way we treat Israel and Christians, and the poor, is the way we treat God. The whole Bible is fundamentally about loving God and loving mankind. If you don’t love people, you don’t love God.
Start with your family and work outward. Ask, “What good thing have I done for my wife, or husband, or parent today? Make the principle of “random acts of kindness” real in your life. Do good works and nice things for people -- even people you don’t like -- any chance you get. Stop being the last angry man or woman or teenager. Life is way too short to waste it in anger.
Look, the people who need the most help in life are the people who are in the worst shape. They may be dirty, addicted, homeless, broken, discouraged, angry, in a rotten attitude, poor, crippled, beaten up, old, confused, whatever. Point is: they need help.
Caution
A word of caution: in our litigious society, you have to use wisdom when you’re being a good Samaritan. The very person you’re trying to help could turn on you, become neurotically dependent on you, sue you, and so on. Sometimes helping someone is like taking a stroll through a minefield. It takes wisdom and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. So practice on people close to you - family members, friends, church members etc. Meet people at their actual points of need. Don’t look for, or expect thanks - don’t look for recognition. Remember Jesus taught, “Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.” Let God and God alone reward you.
A further word of qualification: We should not help those who hate God -- that is, help them do that which expresses their enmity against God and God’s people. I don’t want to help America’s, or Christian’s, or Jew’s, enemies. I don’t want to appease them, or show weakness toward them. I certainly don’t want to see our President constantly apologizing for who and what we are. Note these words in II Chronicles 19:1-2: “When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to the palace in Jerusalem, Jehu the seer [prophet], the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, ‘Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is upon you.”
You can read the surrounding verses for the context. I just wanted to capture the principle of those verses. We should not appease, or aid and abet, the wicked in their wickedness. Study Psalm 139:21-22.
There’s a principle here: There is a tendency to help the powerful simply because they have power - even if they are evil. God says we should help those who love the Lord and not help the wicked. God’s wrath is on those who help the wicked.
Now let’s look at some practical ways we can fulfill Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-46:
Paul wrote, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ,” (Galatians 6:2). What is the law of Christ? It is found in Galatians 5:14, “The entire law [nomos or Torah] is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself.” When you see another person in difficulty, ask yourself, “What would I want and need if I were in his or her situation?” Money, prayer, encouragement, comfort, food, clothing, transportation, healing, a job, deliverance - what? Then try to give it them if you have it to give.
By now I hope you understand the implications of my theme text - Matthew 25:31 - 46 a little better. There is a godly way of life and an ungodly one. We can choose which way we’ll live. A godly person is like the godly woman of Proverbs 31: she does [i.e. to her husband] good and not evil all the days of her life. A godly person - whether he or she is a committed Christian or Jew, or not - does good to the people of God. He treats Jews well, supports Israel and respects Christians. As Paul wrote, even some gentiles do by nature things contained in Torah.
Those who hate the Jews, and Christians, hate God. They should not be appeased or supported. Nor should their evil be rationalized or justified. A day of reckoning is coming. Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus the Anointed One) will be the Judge. He says, “Behold, I am coming soon. My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done…Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood,” (Revelation 22:12-15, excerpts).
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Sidebar
Whenever I, and others, have written or spoken in support of the Jews or Israel, an assortment of predictable objections is raised. One is, “Look how badly Israel has treated the Palestinians.” Another is to label Jews “Christ killers.” Those who have been smitten with the “replacement doctrine” will say that the Jewish people have been rejected as God’s people and replaced by the Catholic Church. In this model, Protestants and other Christians are reduced to the status of “separated brethren.”
All these and other objections can and will be (God willing) answered in future articles.
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