Thursday, November 09, 2006
Who are the Sheep and Goats then?
Could this really be the judgment on the whole of mankind for all of history? Does the Bible teach that in the end all mankind will be judged for acts of charity toward disciples? If so, our evangelism is misdirected, isn't it? I don't think so. Paul didn't think so.
So what is this?
Right off the bat, here's something that didn't stand out to me before. So many people quote this passage incompletely. How many charities around the world quote "as you did it to one of the least of these." But what does it say? "as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers..." Who are Jesus' brothers? Well, what did Jesus say? "'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'"
So this is not a judgment on how global charities handle the poor. He is speaking of his brothers, the disciples.
So, how could Adam be judged for how he treated one of Jesus' disciples? How could Moses or even Amalek be judged for how he treated one of Jesus' disciples? Only during a time of persecution of Christians does this make sense.
This really makes sense in light of Matthew 10:40-42, "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
This fits with the Parable of the Wedding Feast, especially the judgment of those who "seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them." (Matthew 22:1-14)
I do hope to get some comments on these posts. I'm still investigating this method of interpretation, but it does seem very simple, straightforward, and uncontrived to me. Do you agree? Do you see problems? Is there something you think I've overlooked, either pro or con?
Come now, let us reason together...
So what is this?
Right off the bat, here's something that didn't stand out to me before. So many people quote this passage incompletely. How many charities around the world quote "as you did it to one of the least of these." But what does it say? "as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers..." Who are Jesus' brothers? Well, what did Jesus say? "'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'"
So this is not a judgment on how global charities handle the poor. He is speaking of his brothers, the disciples.
So, how could Adam be judged for how he treated one of Jesus' disciples? How could Moses or even Amalek be judged for how he treated one of Jesus' disciples? Only during a time of persecution of Christians does this make sense.
This really makes sense in light of Matthew 10:40-42, "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
This fits with the Parable of the Wedding Feast, especially the judgment of those who "seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them." (Matthew 22:1-14)
I do hope to get some comments on these posts. I'm still investigating this method of interpretation, but it does seem very simple, straightforward, and uncontrived to me. Do you agree? Do you see problems? Is there something you think I've overlooked, either pro or con?
Come now, let us reason together...
4 Comments:
Hey Brian,
I can't comment now but I will take a look at all your postings together tonight when I get home from work and then give you a well thought out reply. :)
Y.B.I.C,
Dave.
Dear Brian,
First I would just like to say that I'm sorry for taking so long to reply back. I've been very busy lately and This thread has required a little more reading than I had expected.
If you don't mind I'm going to give a light answer here, because, again, I'm strapped for time and because, we can most certainly continue on with further thoughts if you desire.
I would like to start by saying this up front.... I'm very eschatologically challenged. My whole eschatology is pretty much summed up in Matt:36 - "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."
But if I were to have to choose a system of eschatology I would have to say that I'm most comfortable with the Amillennial view. I am also very covenantal in my interpretation of redemptive history. I would consider myself "reformed" but I would rather identify myself simply as a proponent of God's Sovereignty.
I work at "LifeWay" Christian bookstore. I haven't looked into Scofield's Study Bible yet to get a better look at the Dispensational view. But I'm planning on doing that tonight. So just keep that in mind when reading my reply.
To get a better understanding of Matthew 24 and 25 I went to my usual commentaries. Calvin's, Henry's, Hendriksen's, Jamieson Faussett and Brown's, Gill's and my Reformation Study Bible. I also referred to "Amillennialism" by Kim Riddlebarger and "The Parables" by Kistmaker.
The first thing I always like to do is to refer to Gods Word itself. So I read Matthew 24 and 25 in the NASB, ESV and KJV. This helps me to get a real good birds eye view of everything and to try to keep everything in the right perspective.
I would just like to add that I'm just a simple layman. I haven't had any formal training and so my hermeneutic obviously reflects this. But I would have to say that I try to stay with the Historical-grammatical approach. I tend try to put myself in the writers shoes. In the case of prophesy and the book of Revelations, I tend not to take everything literally and do see symbolism involved.
OK, so that's enough about me. On to my take on the subject matter at hand.
First I would like to say that as we look at the book of Matthew or St. Matthew's Gospel, we need to keep in mind that it's mainly written for the Jews. So with this perspective, we will better be able to understand the lessons contained in this wonderful Gospel.
So I will just start with a quick look at Matthew 23 and then go through 24 and 25.
In Matthew 23 we see Jesus pronouncing woe or judgment upon the Pharisees. This chapter for me really sets the stage for 24 and 25. What we're seeing in this chapter is basically describing religion by works that focuses on external appearances and a legalistic system of elaborate laws to obey to earn one's place in heaven.
Matt 23:27-28 KJV, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
With this in mind let's move on to 24. - "Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." Matt 24:1 ESV.
I believe that this is prophetic, foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70.
So we see that in 23, because of the unfaithfulness of Israel, Jesus is now pronouncing judgment in 24.
Now as for the rest of 24, well it is difficult. There are many different views of interpretation concerning this chapter. I feel most comfortable with viewing this as dealing with the destruction of Jerusalem and also with the coming of Jesus and the end of the age. I also see symbolism and because these are prophetic passages, I tend not to be really concerned about being totally analytical in an exact understanding of them.
Again I refer to Matt 24:36.
Now referring to Matt 25:31-46, "The Sheep and the Goats." Basically I first look at Matthew 23 and the focus on Hypocrisy and of trying rely on our own works in our obedience of the Law or our own righteousness.
I then look at the parables of the Ten Virgins and of the Talents.
What we see here is the same teaching we see in James 2:14-26 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[b] is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"-- and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."
So when I look at Matt 25:31-46 I see this as a teaching about faith will produce good works. So those who are truly called of Jesus will be those who had the heart to serve and do unto others. About truly loving thy neighbor.
Well, I have to run. I hope this helps a little. Thank you Brian for encouraging me to take a closer look at these wonderful passages.
May His grace and peace be with you always.
Y.B.I.C,
Dave.
Your larger than life admirer has read your beautiful blog. How proud I am of you now and always. I wish all parents could have the privilege of enjoying a son like you. I am of all people most blessed. Thank you Lord!
Dave,
I see we have more in common than just beards.
I worked for three years at a Parable Group store, which was very influential for me spiritually. I had plenty of time to check out the different translations.
We also use the same commentaries. I usually check Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, and JFB.
When I was in college, I had access to Matthew Poole, which I also enjoyed.
Small world, eh?
Oh, and, mom, thanks for visiting my website. I thought children were supposed to honor their parents, not the other way around. I suppose, though its one of those reciprocal blessings.
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