Three Critical Words
Read Matthew 25:31-46.
There is a lot we could explore in this short passage, and there are lot of things people debate about this short passage. Rather than doing that, though, let's focus on three critical words Jesus says here that have impact on our lives now.
1. When. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory..." (25:31). "When" is important. Jesus doesn't say "if the Son of Man comes..." He says "when" as if it's a done deal. And it is. It's a certainty. There's no quibbling or debating about the reality of Jesus' return. One day he will come. His certainty about such matters convinced the early church that he would return before they died, and when some believers began to die, they became confused. Paul had to write (1 Thessalonians 4) to reassure them that, no matter what was happening, it was still certain that Jesus would come. He will return. Not if. When.
The centuries that have followed have found us often, as human beings who want to nail down specifics, trying to determine the exact point of the "when." No one in the first century likely thought he would not have come by now. And yet, here we are in the twenty-first century, still waiting. But that "time lag" does not decrease the certainty. It just means we're getting closer. When. Not if. He will come. It's not for us to know when, but to count on the assurance.
2. All. "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" (25:32). Do you know what the word for "all" in the original text means? It means all. Everyone. Every single person. There is no person, no nation who is outside of God's view, and that means, in the end, there is no person and no nation who will stand outside of God's judgment. This is a hard word. We don't like to hear or think about judgment. And yet, the Bible is clear from start to finish that such a judgment will take place. Call it accountability, if you like, but it doesn't change the environment or the outcome. What we do here will have eternal effects. It's not so much God declaring sentence on us, as if he just found out how we are. It's more that God pronounces who we have been throughout our life. Without the grace of Jesus to cover us all, we would have no hope. The only way some become "sheep" is that they have become one of Jesus' people. All will be judged when the Son of Man returns.
3. Did. All throughout this passage, there is an emphasis on what we do and do not do in our lives here on earth, but no where in this passage is it said that those things "save" us. What's fascinating about this passage is that those who think they are saved are, in reality, not, and vice versa. And we've all likely known people for whom "salvation" was saying a prayer and then sitting in a pew the rest of their lives. Jesus calls us to evidence our faith with our lives. Will we be surprised who is among the sheep and who is not? Probably. But Jesus will not be. He already sees those who live out their faith without fear, who do what he calls us to do.
Does anyone remember the old Sunday School song based on this passage? It's a pretty simple prayer (if you want to call it that):
1. When. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory..." (25:31). "When" is important. Jesus doesn't say "if the Son of Man comes..." He says "when" as if it's a done deal. And it is. It's a certainty. There's no quibbling or debating about the reality of Jesus' return. One day he will come. His certainty about such matters convinced the early church that he would return before they died, and when some believers began to die, they became confused. Paul had to write (1 Thessalonians 4) to reassure them that, no matter what was happening, it was still certain that Jesus would come. He will return. Not if. When.
The centuries that have followed have found us often, as human beings who want to nail down specifics, trying to determine the exact point of the "when." No one in the first century likely thought he would not have come by now. And yet, here we are in the twenty-first century, still waiting. But that "time lag" does not decrease the certainty. It just means we're getting closer. When. Not if. He will come. It's not for us to know when, but to count on the assurance.
2. All. "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" (25:32). Do you know what the word for "all" in the original text means? It means all. Everyone. Every single person. There is no person, no nation who is outside of God's view, and that means, in the end, there is no person and no nation who will stand outside of God's judgment. This is a hard word. We don't like to hear or think about judgment. And yet, the Bible is clear from start to finish that such a judgment will take place. Call it accountability, if you like, but it doesn't change the environment or the outcome. What we do here will have eternal effects. It's not so much God declaring sentence on us, as if he just found out how we are. It's more that God pronounces who we have been throughout our life. Without the grace of Jesus to cover us all, we would have no hope. The only way some become "sheep" is that they have become one of Jesus' people. All will be judged when the Son of Man returns.
3. Did. All throughout this passage, there is an emphasis on what we do and do not do in our lives here on earth, but no where in this passage is it said that those things "save" us. What's fascinating about this passage is that those who think they are saved are, in reality, not, and vice versa. And we've all likely known people for whom "salvation" was saying a prayer and then sitting in a pew the rest of their lives. Jesus calls us to evidence our faith with our lives. Will we be surprised who is among the sheep and who is not? Probably. But Jesus will not be. He already sees those who live out their faith without fear, who do what he calls us to do.
Does anyone remember the old Sunday School song based on this passage? It's a pretty simple prayer (if you want to call it that):
I don't want to be a goat, nope
I don't want to be a goat, nope
'Cause a goat ain't got no hope, nope
I don't want to be a goat, nope
I just want to be a sheep, baa!
I just want to be sheep, baa!
From my head down to my feet, baa!
I just want to be a sheep, baa!
Reading this passage again through the years, though, makes me realize that this song is actually a song the goats would sing—hopefully wishing that they will be counted among the sheep by simply singing a song. A sheep would sing, and then get up and serve someone. A sheep would live out his or her faith because they are unashamed of the one who is coming.
So, put the blog aside and go be a sheep.
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