Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, 2snd
November
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
I Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9
II Reading: Romans 6:3-9
The Parable of the Sheep and Goats:
The Final Judgement of Nations, Mt 25:31-46
Jesus
taught about the final judgement of nations (all nations of people) which will
be the judgement of the world through the parable of the sheep and Goats. He
judges two types of beings, sheep and goats, not same type of being. The sheep
are faithful whereas goats are not faithful and don’t serve Christ.
The
only faith that God knows and accepts is the faith that servers Christ by
ministering to people. A man who says he has faith and does not ministering to
people is only professing faith in Christ. Scripture says, “Show me your faith
without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (Jas 2:18). God knows
no faith apart from good works, that is, apart from ministering to the needs of
the people.
1.
The Son of Man is coming to judge (v.31-33)
a.
coming in glory
b.
coming with angels
c.
coming to be enthroned
d.
coming to gather all nations
e.
coming to separate the nations, both sheep and goats
1) sheep- favoured seat
2) goats- unfavoured seat
2.
The judgement of sheep will occur (v.34-40)
a.
the judge: the king
b.
the invitation: come
c.
the reward: the kingdom
d.
the basis of judgement: ministering to Christ
e.
the ministry defined
1) a humble, instinctive ministry: no
thought of reward, only of helping people in need
2) a ministry to the Lord’s brothers
and sisters
3.
The judgement of goats will occur (v.41-45)
a.
the judgement
1) cut off from God
2) eternal fire
b.
the basis of judgement
1) a failure to minister
2) a selfish life
3) a spiritual blindness
4.
The judgement is for eternity (v.46)
Thought:
Selfishness, indulgence, extravagance, hoarding-all that leads to and indicates
the neglect of others-will visibly condemn a person when he or she stands
before Christ (Mt 19:16-22, 23-24,27-30).
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