Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46   Jesus concluded His teaching on His future return with this.... "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne."  Oh, Hallelujah! What a day that will be! 

Yet, this time will also be a time of judgement for the nations..."And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."

There will be a  final separation.. sheep from goats.. wheat from tares.. foolish slaves from faithful slaves.. the prepared virgins from the unprepared.. the productive servants from the lazy ones..  righteous from evil... believers from unbelievers.  Jesus gives us a clear directive on His standard of judgement.. 

He says to the "sheep" at His right hand, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.."   Those who fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, invited the stranger in, clothed the naked, visited the sick and the prisoners... "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." 

The "goats" on the King's left are told, "Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.. "  They gave nothing.. they helped no-one.. they failed to act in kindness or mercy to even "one of the least of these".  

It is, as always, an issue of the heart.  A heart that has yielded to Jesus, cleansed by His blood, transformed by His Spirit.. will love God and love his brothers. We will reach out to the best of our ability to help those in need, using whatever the Lord has leant us to sow into the souls of others. Our lives will reflect the love and joy and peace and grace of our Father and of our Brother Jesus. 

But, a heart that is hardened.. self-centered.. greedy.. malicious.. judgmental..bitter..  and sin-filled ..will be seen by the lack of compassion and kindness and truthfulness....

 ...And, this is where we all stand until we understand our need for a Savior who can and will and delights to make us new!  We do not have to stay "goats".. for Christ came to set us free! He alone can save. Oh Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

Father in heaven, we long for the coming of our King!  To see Him in His glory.. to enter the inheritance that You have prepared for us..  Yet, we also grieve for the lost, for those who refuse to turn to You as well as those who have never heard the Word of Truth. Once again, we bring our prayer.. Send forth workers into the harvest, Lord!  For we ask this in Jesus' wonderful, powerful Name. Amen.