Sheep and Goats - Monday 14 January 2008

"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 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, 'Lord, 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 needing 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.' Matthew 25:31-40 NIV

This parable has always been a difficult one for me. We are used to understanding that those who will be saved when Jesus comes again will be those who have given their lives to him, who have been born again and baptised. Here Jesus seems to be saying that it is those who have done good works who will be saved. This apparently flies in the face of all we understand about the gospel. Can we really work our way to heaven by doing good works? We all know people who are tireless workers for charity but who deny the Christian Faith. Will they make it to heaven while good christians are left behind?

What I think that Jesus was trying to say here was that those people who have God dwelling in their hearts cannot help reaching out in the ways that this parable describes. The love and compassion of God within them could not stand by and not help. Like the Good Samaritan we could not pass by even an enemy if he was hurting. But He is also warning that there will be those who do not do these things even though they are saved.

In reality I am aware that I am capable of doing both sheepish or goatish things so perhaps we can ask God to work in us to separate those attitudes within us.

This week I hope to challenge you and to stir up the Spirit of love within you as we look together at this parable.