The Sheep And The Goats
Preaching
Preaching The Parables
Series III, Cycle A
1. Text
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. [32] All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, [33] and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. [34] Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; [35] for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' [37] Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? [38] And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? [39] And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' [40] And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' [41] Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me 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 nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' [44] Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' [45] Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' [46] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
2. What's Happening?
First Point Of Action
Juxtaposing kingdom imagery with rural imagery, Jesus makes the four "will" statements that will happen when the Son of Man comes: 1) Christ will reign, 2) all the nations will be gathered before him, 3) Christ will separate the sheep from the goats, and 4) Christ will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left hand.
Second Point Of Action
Christ will tell those at his right hand that they have inherited the future prepared for them from the foundation of the world because when:
1) he was hungry, they gave him food,
2) he was thirsty, they gave him something to drink,
3) he was a stranger, they welcomed him,
4) he was naked, they gave him clothing,
5) he was sick, they took care of him,
6) he was in prison, they visited him.
Third Point Of Action
The righteous will answer him asking, when was it that they:
1) saw him hungry and gave him food,
2) or thirsty and gave him something to drink,
3) a stranger and welcomed him,
4) or naked and gave him clothing,
5) sick or in prison and visited him?
Fourth Point Of Action
Christ will answer that as they did it to one of the least of those who are members of his family, they did it to him.
Fifth Point Of Action
Then he will turn to those on his left and tell them that they are accursed and commands that they depart from him into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels for when he was
1) hungry they gave him no food,
2) thirsty they gave him nothing to drink,
3) a stranger and they did not welcome him,
4) naked and they did not give him clothing,
5) sick and in prison and they did not visit him.
Sixth Point Of Action
Those on his left ask when it was that they saw him hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of him.
Seventh Point Of Action
He answers that just as they did not do it to one of the least of these, they did not do it to him.
Eighth Point Of Action
He tells the crowd that these people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.
3. Spadework
Accursed
The "accursed" depart from God "into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (v. 41). Eleven references enlarge understanding "accursed." For the Psalmist, they are "the insolent ... who wander from [God's] commandments" (Psalm 119:21). The people of God's creation of the new Jerusalem will be long--lived, "for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed" (Isaiah 65:20). The "accursed" "slack in doing the work of the Lord" and keep back "the sword from bloodshed" (Jeremiah 48:10). Those who do not know the law are accursed. (See John 7:49.)
According to the writers of the letters in the New Testament, the "accursed" are "cut off from Christ" (Romans 9:3), have "no love for" God (1 Corinthians 16:22), proclaim a contrary gospel (Galatians 1:8--9), or "have eyes full of adultery, are insatiable for sin, entice unsteady souls, or have hearts trained in greed" (2 Peter 2:14).
Blessed By
These words were the hope of faithful people: "May you be blessed by the Lord, / who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 115:15). Shem and Joseph were said to be "blessed by the Lord" (See Genesis 9:26 and Deuteronomy 33:13.) See also Judges 17:2, Ruth 3:10, 1 Samuel 15:13, 1 Samuel 23:21, and 2 Samuel 2:5.
These words of the Psalmist preface the later words of Christ: "[F]or those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, / but those cursed by him shall be cut off" (Psalm 37:22). Note: "Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world' " (Matthew 25:34). Note also all blessed in the beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ... Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:3--11) and "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God ... Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled ... Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man" (Luke 6:20--22).
Depart From Me
In most of the 42 occurrences, "depart" refers to dying or leaving in some other way. The writer of the Gospel of John uses the word in reference to Jesus' dying: "Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end" (John 13:1).
Two other verses, however, catch the vigor of the vernacular, "Get lost" or "Get out of here": "Depart from me, all you workers of evil, / for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping" (Psalm 6:8) and "Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11).
Least [One Of The Least Of These]
"Least" in the present text reads: "And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me' " (v. 40) and "Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me' " (v. 45). Again note, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest" (Luke 9:48) and "Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11). See also Luke 7:28.
The least is not less or even lesser, but of the very lowest magnitude. From the viewpoint of others and sometimes in the chosen individual's own mind, the "least" are invalid; however, through God's justice, God perceives each one's special gifts. Two whom God chose for an important task were Gideon and Saul. Not only was Gideon's clan the weakest, but in his own family, Gideon saw himself at the bottom. Gideon responded to God's request, "But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family" (Judges 6:15). When Samuel asked Saul to rule over Israel, Saul gave a similar answer, "I am only a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel, and my family is the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Why then have you spoken to me in this way?" (1 Samuel 9:21).
Not only does God's measurement of value have little to do with stature, wealth, condition of the body, or belonging, God's choices for leadership often focus on the least likely candidate, the underdog: "The least of them shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will accomplish it quickly" (Isaiah 60:22).
Left And Right
In the 36 references where left and right are used, only in two is one side shown in preference to the other. In today's passage, reference is made to the shepherd's separating the sheep from the goats and putting one to the left and the other to the right. Those at the king's left hand are "accursed" and are ordered to "depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). Those at his right hand, however, are beckoned to come and "inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).
The philosopher offers a definite distinction between the left and the right: "The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left" (Ecclesiastes 10:2). During certain offerings, acts were done to the right side of the body. (See Leviticus 8:23, 9:21, 14:14, and 14:16.)
Consider the birth of the word "righteous" from those who are at the right or who do what is right, just, correct, and wise. "Righteous," defined as "right plus wise" through the Old English rihtwis. Consider also the left and right of the political and intellectual systems. Consider the connotations of left-- and right--handedness.
"Left" comes from an Old English word, lyft, meaning weak or useless. One meaning of "sinister" is "left" or "on the left side." The Middle English, sinistre, from an Old French word meaning "unfavorable" and the Latin sinister, meaning "on the left" or "unlucky," are also of note. For that manner, consider the "sin" connection.
The right hand is the hand of power:
"Your right hand [rh], O Lord, glorious in power - your rh, O Lord, shattered the enemy" (Exodus 15:6);
"You stretched out your rh, the earth swallowed them" (Exodus 15:12);
"Then I will also acknowledge to you that your own rh can give you victory" (Job 40:14);
"I keep the Lord always before me; / because he is at my rh, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:8);
"You have given me the shield of your salvation, / and your rh has / supported me; / your help has made me great" (Psalm 18:35);
"You have a mighty arm; / strong is your hand, high your rh" (Psalm 89:13);
"[D]o not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious rh" (Isaiah 41:10); and
"Jesus said to [the high priest] 'You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the rh of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven' " (Matthew 26:64, see also Psalm 16:11, 118:15--16, and 137:5).
We grasp another's right hand with ours. (See Isaiah 45:1.) We lift our right hand to take an oath. (See Isaiah 62:8.) The man in linen, however, who was upstream "raised his right hand and his left hand to heaven." (See Daniel 12:7.) Jacob placed the right hand of blessing upon the head of Joseph's son, Ephraim. (See Genesis 48:17.)
Is the left--handed blessing of a left--handed pastor valid, we lefthanders tease. Does it resemble the left--handed compliment, or is it one more phrase from the past to outgrow?
If your right eye or your right hand causes you to sin, "tear it out" or "cut it off" and "throw it away." (See Matthew 5:29--30.) The right rather than the left hand of the man was withered. (See Luke 6:6.) The promise reads, "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, / let my right hand wither!" (Psalm 137:5). Simon Peter cut off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave. (See John 18:10.)
On the other hand, a left--handed deliverer, a Benjaminite named Ehud, used his left--handedness to foil King Eglon of Moab. (See Judges 3:15.) In another victorious left--hand story, from a Benjaminite force of 26,000, "there were seven hundred picked men who were left--handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair, and not miss" (Judges 20:15--16). Perhaps the historian was left--handed. Only the left--handed can know how weak and unhandy the right hand can be and how strong the left hand can be.
His Glory
God "has shown us his glory and greatness and we have heard his voice out of the fire" (Deuteronomy 5:24). We are to "declare [God's] glory" (1 Chronicles 16:24 and Psalm 96:3). The Psalmist sings further of God's glory: "The heavens proclaim his righteousness; / and all the peoples behold his glory" (Psalm 97:6) and "The Lord is high above all nations, / and his glory above the heavens" (Psalm 113:4). (See also Psalms 72:19, 78:61, 85:9, 102:16, and 148:13.)
The familiar hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy," sings of God's glory. The winged, first--order, seraph angels "called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory' " (Isaiah 6:3). The glory of all else quells before God's glory: "Then the moon will be abashed, and the sun ashamed; for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders he will manifest his glory" (Isaiah 24:23). See also Isaiah 59:19.
God's glory brings transforming light: "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn" (Isaiah 60:1--3). See also Isaiah 61:3, Ezekiel 43:2, and Habakkuk 3:3.
Other Gospel references to "the Son of Man in his glory" include Matthew 19:28, Luke 9:26, and Luke 24:26. When Jesus referred to King Solomon "in all his glory" (Matthew 6:29 and Luke 12:27), this most likely referred to the king's splendor and regalia rather than to the auro or halo of light around Christ's being to which the writer of the Gospel of John spoke in seeing Christ's glory or his having revealed his glory. (See John 1:14, 2:11, and 12:41.) See also Luke 9:32.
Consider the relationship of God's glory and light:
"Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light" (Genesis 1:3);
"Moreover, you led them by day with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the way in which they should go" (Nehemiah 9:12);
"He uncovers the deeps out of darkness, and brings deep darkness to light" (Job 12:22);
"There are many who say, / 'O that we might see some good! / Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!' " (Psalm 4:6);
"It is you who light my lamp; / the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness" (Psalm 18:28);
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; / whom shall I fear? / The Lord is the stronghold of my life; / of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1);
"[W]rapped in light as with a garment. / You stretch out the heavens like a tent" (Psalm 104:2); "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105);
"For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light" (Proverbs 6:23a);
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1);
"[T]he people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned" (Matthew 4:16);
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14);
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16);
"[I]n him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:4--5);
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life' " (John 8:12); and
"I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness" (John 12:46).
Separate
Compare the uses of "separate" in Matthew and in the later Letter to the Romans. The Matthean verses read: "[H]e will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats," (v. 32) and "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous" (Matthew 13:49).
Paul's reassuring letter reads:
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 8:34--39
When Was It That
This phrase is exclusive to the three emphatic, closely--placed occasions in the present text: "[W]hen was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?" (vv. 37--39). "When," standing alone, is the first word of the presenting statement of this parable: "When the Son of Man comes in all his glory" (v. 31).
Will
Appearing eleven times, "will" is an important word in this text. "Will" speaks of being determined: You had better believe it. "Will" speaks of the future: This is coming. "Will" remembers and honors covenants: I promise. "Will" states consequences: Because of this, therefore this will be. "Will" answers the "When."
4. Parallel Scripture
The present passage is the only telling of this parable.
5. Chat Room
Intertwined
Plans prepared for you
From the beginning of the world
So comforting these words
Counting in God's plan
Not only since our conception
But from the world's beginning
How unfathomable for human spirit
To grasp full being God
So compassionate God
So necessary to send Christ
As Jesus, Present One,
In spirit permeating all humanity
So intertwined triadic relationship of creation
With being,
That impossibility of separating God
From Sustainer Christ
From neighbor who is
Also ourself
One.
All: "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Reader A: "I was hungry and you gave me food."
Reader B: It was nearing the end of the month. I had to buy medicine You baked me bread and shared your roast.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink."
Reader B: It was a scorcher of a day and I was only a short way into mail delivery. You met me at the corner with a jug of cold water.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me."
Reader B: As you greeted me that first day at church, my body jerking from the cerebral palsy, you did not recoil but took both of my hands in yours, looked deep into my eyes, and asked my name.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was naked and you gave me clothing."
Reader B: It was cold when I came to your door. You saw my tee--shirt and went to your closet. You gave me one of your jackets and a wool cap.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was sick and you took care of me."
Reader B: I was too stubborn to say I was afraid to go home alone from the hospital. You shaped a shift of people to stay those first days.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was in prison and you visited me."
Reader B: My family rebuked me in shame and refused to visit. Beneath all my wrongs, you saw that I still am a child of God and came each week.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: I am here and here and over here. Hear me, see me, touch me, love me, treat me as you would want to be treated.
All: "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Reader A: "Truly I tell you, just as you do not do it to one of the least of these, you do not do it to me."
All: When have we missed you? When?
Reader A: When I am hungry.
Reader B: I want to gain knowledge, develop a skill, and learn what is important for a meaningful life, but you show no interest.
Reader C: I am here; you dismiss my silent cry.
Reader A: When I am thirsty.
Reader B: My spirit is parched from older aged boredom, lack of friendship and meaningful hours.
Reader C: I am here; you ignore my silent cry.
Reader A: When I am a stranger.
Reader B: My ways differ from yours. You exclude me, not seeing I am acceptable to God.
Reader C: I am here; you discount my silent cry.
Reader A: When I am without sufficient clothing.
Reader B: You buy more than you will ever need for yourself.
Reader C: I am here; you disregard my silent cry.
Reader A: When I am sick.
Reader B: Your pollutants drain into my water supply.
Reader C: I am here; you push me aside as expendable.
Reader A: When I am in prison.
Reader B: You make no attempt to correct the injustice of my case.
Reader C: I am here; you refuse to hear my silent cry.
Reader A: Just as you do not do it to one of the least of these, you do not do it to me because we are all members of the same family.
All: Come, recognize my presence among you and be blessed by the Parent of Christ, so you might inherit the realm as planned for you from the beginning of time.
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. [32] All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, [33] and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. [34] Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; [35] for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' [37] Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? [38] And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? [39] And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' [40] And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' [41] Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me 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 nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' [44] Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' [45] Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' [46] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
2. What's Happening?
First Point Of Action
Juxtaposing kingdom imagery with rural imagery, Jesus makes the four "will" statements that will happen when the Son of Man comes: 1) Christ will reign, 2) all the nations will be gathered before him, 3) Christ will separate the sheep from the goats, and 4) Christ will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left hand.
Second Point Of Action
Christ will tell those at his right hand that they have inherited the future prepared for them from the foundation of the world because when:
1) he was hungry, they gave him food,
2) he was thirsty, they gave him something to drink,
3) he was a stranger, they welcomed him,
4) he was naked, they gave him clothing,
5) he was sick, they took care of him,
6) he was in prison, they visited him.
Third Point Of Action
The righteous will answer him asking, when was it that they:
1) saw him hungry and gave him food,
2) or thirsty and gave him something to drink,
3) a stranger and welcomed him,
4) or naked and gave him clothing,
5) sick or in prison and visited him?
Fourth Point Of Action
Christ will answer that as they did it to one of the least of those who are members of his family, they did it to him.
Fifth Point Of Action
Then he will turn to those on his left and tell them that they are accursed and commands that they depart from him into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels for when he was
1) hungry they gave him no food,
2) thirsty they gave him nothing to drink,
3) a stranger and they did not welcome him,
4) naked and they did not give him clothing,
5) sick and in prison and they did not visit him.
Sixth Point Of Action
Those on his left ask when it was that they saw him hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of him.
Seventh Point Of Action
He answers that just as they did not do it to one of the least of these, they did not do it to him.
Eighth Point Of Action
He tells the crowd that these people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.
3. Spadework
Accursed
The "accursed" depart from God "into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (v. 41). Eleven references enlarge understanding "accursed." For the Psalmist, they are "the insolent ... who wander from [God's] commandments" (Psalm 119:21). The people of God's creation of the new Jerusalem will be long--lived, "for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed" (Isaiah 65:20). The "accursed" "slack in doing the work of the Lord" and keep back "the sword from bloodshed" (Jeremiah 48:10). Those who do not know the law are accursed. (See John 7:49.)
According to the writers of the letters in the New Testament, the "accursed" are "cut off from Christ" (Romans 9:3), have "no love for" God (1 Corinthians 16:22), proclaim a contrary gospel (Galatians 1:8--9), or "have eyes full of adultery, are insatiable for sin, entice unsteady souls, or have hearts trained in greed" (2 Peter 2:14).
Blessed By
These words were the hope of faithful people: "May you be blessed by the Lord, / who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 115:15). Shem and Joseph were said to be "blessed by the Lord" (See Genesis 9:26 and Deuteronomy 33:13.) See also Judges 17:2, Ruth 3:10, 1 Samuel 15:13, 1 Samuel 23:21, and 2 Samuel 2:5.
These words of the Psalmist preface the later words of Christ: "[F]or those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, / but those cursed by him shall be cut off" (Psalm 37:22). Note: "Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world' " (Matthew 25:34). Note also all blessed in the beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ... Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:3--11) and "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God ... Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled ... Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man" (Luke 6:20--22).
Depart From Me
In most of the 42 occurrences, "depart" refers to dying or leaving in some other way. The writer of the Gospel of John uses the word in reference to Jesus' dying: "Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end" (John 13:1).
Two other verses, however, catch the vigor of the vernacular, "Get lost" or "Get out of here": "Depart from me, all you workers of evil, / for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping" (Psalm 6:8) and "Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11).
Least [One Of The Least Of These]
"Least" in the present text reads: "And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me' " (v. 40) and "Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me' " (v. 45). Again note, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest" (Luke 9:48) and "Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11). See also Luke 7:28.
The least is not less or even lesser, but of the very lowest magnitude. From the viewpoint of others and sometimes in the chosen individual's own mind, the "least" are invalid; however, through God's justice, God perceives each one's special gifts. Two whom God chose for an important task were Gideon and Saul. Not only was Gideon's clan the weakest, but in his own family, Gideon saw himself at the bottom. Gideon responded to God's request, "But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family" (Judges 6:15). When Samuel asked Saul to rule over Israel, Saul gave a similar answer, "I am only a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel, and my family is the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Why then have you spoken to me in this way?" (1 Samuel 9:21).
Not only does God's measurement of value have little to do with stature, wealth, condition of the body, or belonging, God's choices for leadership often focus on the least likely candidate, the underdog: "The least of them shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will accomplish it quickly" (Isaiah 60:22).
Left And Right
In the 36 references where left and right are used, only in two is one side shown in preference to the other. In today's passage, reference is made to the shepherd's separating the sheep from the goats and putting one to the left and the other to the right. Those at the king's left hand are "accursed" and are ordered to "depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). Those at his right hand, however, are beckoned to come and "inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).
The philosopher offers a definite distinction between the left and the right: "The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left" (Ecclesiastes 10:2). During certain offerings, acts were done to the right side of the body. (See Leviticus 8:23, 9:21, 14:14, and 14:16.)
Consider the birth of the word "righteous" from those who are at the right or who do what is right, just, correct, and wise. "Righteous," defined as "right plus wise" through the Old English rihtwis. Consider also the left and right of the political and intellectual systems. Consider the connotations of left-- and right--handedness.
"Left" comes from an Old English word, lyft, meaning weak or useless. One meaning of "sinister" is "left" or "on the left side." The Middle English, sinistre, from an Old French word meaning "unfavorable" and the Latin sinister, meaning "on the left" or "unlucky," are also of note. For that manner, consider the "sin" connection.
The right hand is the hand of power:
"Your right hand [rh], O Lord, glorious in power - your rh, O Lord, shattered the enemy" (Exodus 15:6);
"You stretched out your rh, the earth swallowed them" (Exodus 15:12);
"Then I will also acknowledge to you that your own rh can give you victory" (Job 40:14);
"I keep the Lord always before me; / because he is at my rh, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:8);
"You have given me the shield of your salvation, / and your rh has / supported me; / your help has made me great" (Psalm 18:35);
"You have a mighty arm; / strong is your hand, high your rh" (Psalm 89:13);
"[D]o not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious rh" (Isaiah 41:10); and
"Jesus said to [the high priest] 'You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the rh of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven' " (Matthew 26:64, see also Psalm 16:11, 118:15--16, and 137:5).
We grasp another's right hand with ours. (See Isaiah 45:1.) We lift our right hand to take an oath. (See Isaiah 62:8.) The man in linen, however, who was upstream "raised his right hand and his left hand to heaven." (See Daniel 12:7.) Jacob placed the right hand of blessing upon the head of Joseph's son, Ephraim. (See Genesis 48:17.)
Is the left--handed blessing of a left--handed pastor valid, we lefthanders tease. Does it resemble the left--handed compliment, or is it one more phrase from the past to outgrow?
If your right eye or your right hand causes you to sin, "tear it out" or "cut it off" and "throw it away." (See Matthew 5:29--30.) The right rather than the left hand of the man was withered. (See Luke 6:6.) The promise reads, "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, / let my right hand wither!" (Psalm 137:5). Simon Peter cut off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave. (See John 18:10.)
On the other hand, a left--handed deliverer, a Benjaminite named Ehud, used his left--handedness to foil King Eglon of Moab. (See Judges 3:15.) In another victorious left--hand story, from a Benjaminite force of 26,000, "there were seven hundred picked men who were left--handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair, and not miss" (Judges 20:15--16). Perhaps the historian was left--handed. Only the left--handed can know how weak and unhandy the right hand can be and how strong the left hand can be.
His Glory
God "has shown us his glory and greatness and we have heard his voice out of the fire" (Deuteronomy 5:24). We are to "declare [God's] glory" (1 Chronicles 16:24 and Psalm 96:3). The Psalmist sings further of God's glory: "The heavens proclaim his righteousness; / and all the peoples behold his glory" (Psalm 97:6) and "The Lord is high above all nations, / and his glory above the heavens" (Psalm 113:4). (See also Psalms 72:19, 78:61, 85:9, 102:16, and 148:13.)
The familiar hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy," sings of God's glory. The winged, first--order, seraph angels "called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory' " (Isaiah 6:3). The glory of all else quells before God's glory: "Then the moon will be abashed, and the sun ashamed; for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders he will manifest his glory" (Isaiah 24:23). See also Isaiah 59:19.
God's glory brings transforming light: "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn" (Isaiah 60:1--3). See also Isaiah 61:3, Ezekiel 43:2, and Habakkuk 3:3.
Other Gospel references to "the Son of Man in his glory" include Matthew 19:28, Luke 9:26, and Luke 24:26. When Jesus referred to King Solomon "in all his glory" (Matthew 6:29 and Luke 12:27), this most likely referred to the king's splendor and regalia rather than to the auro or halo of light around Christ's being to which the writer of the Gospel of John spoke in seeing Christ's glory or his having revealed his glory. (See John 1:14, 2:11, and 12:41.) See also Luke 9:32.
Consider the relationship of God's glory and light:
"Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light" (Genesis 1:3);
"Moreover, you led them by day with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the way in which they should go" (Nehemiah 9:12);
"He uncovers the deeps out of darkness, and brings deep darkness to light" (Job 12:22);
"There are many who say, / 'O that we might see some good! / Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!' " (Psalm 4:6);
"It is you who light my lamp; / the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness" (Psalm 18:28);
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; / whom shall I fear? / The Lord is the stronghold of my life; / of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1);
"[W]rapped in light as with a garment. / You stretch out the heavens like a tent" (Psalm 104:2); "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105);
"For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light" (Proverbs 6:23a);
"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1);
"[T]he people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned" (Matthew 4:16);
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14);
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16);
"[I]n him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:4--5);
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life' " (John 8:12); and
"I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness" (John 12:46).
Separate
Compare the uses of "separate" in Matthew and in the later Letter to the Romans. The Matthean verses read: "[H]e will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats," (v. 32) and "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous" (Matthew 13:49).
Paul's reassuring letter reads:
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 8:34--39
When Was It That
This phrase is exclusive to the three emphatic, closely--placed occasions in the present text: "[W]hen was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?" (vv. 37--39). "When," standing alone, is the first word of the presenting statement of this parable: "When the Son of Man comes in all his glory" (v. 31).
Will
Appearing eleven times, "will" is an important word in this text. "Will" speaks of being determined: You had better believe it. "Will" speaks of the future: This is coming. "Will" remembers and honors covenants: I promise. "Will" states consequences: Because of this, therefore this will be. "Will" answers the "When."
4. Parallel Scripture
The present passage is the only telling of this parable.
5. Chat Room
Intertwined
Plans prepared for you
From the beginning of the world
So comforting these words
Counting in God's plan
Not only since our conception
But from the world's beginning
How unfathomable for human spirit
To grasp full being God
So compassionate God
So necessary to send Christ
As Jesus, Present One,
In spirit permeating all humanity
So intertwined triadic relationship of creation
With being,
That impossibility of separating God
From Sustainer Christ
From neighbor who is
Also ourself
One.
All: "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Reader A: "I was hungry and you gave me food."
Reader B: It was nearing the end of the month. I had to buy medicine You baked me bread and shared your roast.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink."
Reader B: It was a scorcher of a day and I was only a short way into mail delivery. You met me at the corner with a jug of cold water.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me."
Reader B: As you greeted me that first day at church, my body jerking from the cerebral palsy, you did not recoil but took both of my hands in yours, looked deep into my eyes, and asked my name.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was naked and you gave me clothing."
Reader B: It was cold when I came to your door. You saw my tee--shirt and went to your closet. You gave me one of your jackets and a wool cap.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was sick and you took care of me."
Reader B: I was too stubborn to say I was afraid to go home alone from the hospital. You shaped a shift of people to stay those first days.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: "I was in prison and you visited me."
Reader B: My family rebuked me in shame and refused to visit. Beneath all my wrongs, you saw that I still am a child of God and came each week.
Reader C: I was there; you knew me.
Reader A: I am here and here and over here. Hear me, see me, touch me, love me, treat me as you would want to be treated.
All: "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Reader A: "Truly I tell you, just as you do not do it to one of the least of these, you do not do it to me."
All: When have we missed you? When?
Reader A: When I am hungry.
Reader B: I want to gain knowledge, develop a skill, and learn what is important for a meaningful life, but you show no interest.
Reader C: I am here; you dismiss my silent cry.
Reader A: When I am thirsty.
Reader B: My spirit is parched from older aged boredom, lack of friendship and meaningful hours.
Reader C: I am here; you ignore my silent cry.
Reader A: When I am a stranger.
Reader B: My ways differ from yours. You exclude me, not seeing I am acceptable to God.
Reader C: I am here; you discount my silent cry.
Reader A: When I am without sufficient clothing.
Reader B: You buy more than you will ever need for yourself.
Reader C: I am here; you disregard my silent cry.
Reader A: When I am sick.
Reader B: Your pollutants drain into my water supply.
Reader C: I am here; you push me aside as expendable.
Reader A: When I am in prison.
Reader B: You make no attempt to correct the injustice of my case.
Reader C: I am here; you refuse to hear my silent cry.
Reader A: Just as you do not do it to one of the least of these, you do not do it to me because we are all members of the same family.
All: Come, recognize my presence among you and be blessed by the Parent of Christ, so you might inherit the realm as planned for you from the beginning of time.
