Matthew 25:31- the sheep and the goats.

[Randy Kluth]

I appreciate that.

You are assuming the sheep are Christians. If the sheep are Christians how come they aren't Jesus brethren that they helped? How come as Christians they didn't know they helped these brethren of Jesus? I suggest we as believers are surely His brethren. I suggest the sheep and goats are those in the world left apart from Jesus brethren

Okay, I understand your argument now. As I read it, believers treated other believers well without realizing they were also actually treating Jesus well.

Matt 25.37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Yes, I assume the "sheep" are Christians. Jesus may have said this directly except that he was speaking while still living under the Old Covenant. But he was speaking of a time before the 2nd Coming, which is clearly NT territory. This means believers are Christians--the "sheep" are Christians. And they are treating fellow Christians well, and in so doing treating Jesus well.

Recognizing who the sheep are is understood and the premise for what Jesus meant by the things they are doing. They are acting as Christians, serving Christ.

I agree, to have faith in Christ there must be some evidence of the faith in following what Jesus said and did, (ie James 2) but is this passage actually about that because it says nothing about faith at all, only the works, and works without Christ are dead works.

Works of faith are what is inferrred when good works are done and recognized by Christ as good.

However, you have made a point I hadn't quite thought of. Jesus refers the sheep and refers the goats to what they did or didn't do for His brethren. It reads like these brethren are not of the sheep or goats being judged rather a separate group, but if the brethren are some of the sheep other sheep helped, then that might be it. In other words Jhn 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Any clearer?

I think it's generally understood that Jesus was speaking of the difference between Christianity and non-Christianity. Those who directly or indirectly serve Christ are Christ's brethren, which in today's world are Christians. Just how I look at it.

 

[Peter1]

No he wasn't your either a sheep or a goat which one are you?Have you done what he said?

 

[brightmorningstar]

Yes, but all unbelievers throughout the ages are counted as goats. But remember the goats on Christ's left will be those who claim they belong to the body of Christ/church, and have done deeds worthy of salvation but, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Mt 7:21-22)

The goats bragging about all the good things they did in life are claiming a goodness that comes from the flesh, and not from the Spirit of Christ in them.

Still leaves the problem that neither the sheep nor goats are referred to as believers or unbelievers yet Jesus has already called His disciples the brethren (adelphos). Matt 12, Mark 3 and Luke 8. So...
25:40 καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ἐφ᾽ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

As to Matt 7:21-22 one could assume they are in with the goats.
That fits better with John 5 because the believers are not judged regarding salvation but the dead are on what they have done.

I think the main issue I have with Matthew 25:31- is a growing body of Christians who 'interpret' this as how Christians treat the poor and disadvantaged. There is no mention of ptōchos, and just because it is Jesus teaching in plenty of places throughout the gospels, it doesnt mean this is about that.

 

[Davy]

That's a good suggestion to avail yourself of . . . And do you agree that the Scriptures will not self contradict?

Yes I agree, God's Word won't contradict itself. But man does.

That's why I showed you what Lord Jesus said in Matthew 8. Didn't you catch that He pointed directly to "the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness"? He was pointing to the rebellious and unbelieving children of Israel with that.


Do you really know what that "outer darkness" is, and where it will be when Jesus returns? Jesus gave us a strong clue about that future place in Revelation 22, and it matches what is written in Ezekiel within the future Millennial Chapters, particularly Ezekiel 44...

Rev 22:14-15
14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
KJV

That "outer darkness" will be a place of separation outside the gates of the beloved city on earth when Jesus returns. When Jesus shuts the door on those who did iniquity, that place outside the gates of new Jerusalem is where they go at His return. None are cast into the lake of fire yet, for that day of His future coming is only going to be about a separation of peoples. Those in the "outer darkness" represent "the dead" of Revelation 20:5, meaning they are spiritually... dead, unsaved without Christ and not "born again."

For you, Marks, I'll cover what the Ezekiel 44 Chapter reveals about this, but you have to remember that there is no more sacrifice for sin when Lord Jesus became the one Perfect Sacrifice for all time. This Ezekiel Scripture is part of Old Testament times, under the old covenant, so it would look strange to at that time to speak of the temple without the idea of sacrifices. Since we know better, because Jesus Christ died on the cross to end the old covenant sacrifices, that forces us to adjust this Ezekiel prophecy according to today's times and the future.

Ezek 44:5-25
5 And the LORD said unto me, "Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.

Recall about the Father's house which Lord Jesus mentioned in John 14 which has "many mansions." That is this "house" God is speaking about here, and it is upon this earth after Lord Jesus' future return.

6 And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, 'Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,

Since 1 Kings 11 through 2 Kings 17 when God split old Israel into two separate kingdoms, the "house of Israel" is meant only about the scattered ten tribes of Israel. Still that way today. The Jews of the "house of Judah", the southern kingdom, are still separate from the "house of Israel" today.

7 In that ye have brought into My sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary, to pollute it, even My house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken My covenant because of all your abominations.
8 And ye have not kept the charge of Mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of My charge in My sanctuary for yourselves.

Both the "house of Israel" (ten tribes) and the "house of Judah" were guilty of the above. But God scattered the ten tribe "house of Israel" first out of the holy land, leaving only the "house of Judah" at Jerusalem-Judea.

(Continued...)

 

[Davy]

(Continued...)

9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into My sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.

After Lord Jesus' future return, there will no more be the Canaanite in the House of The LORD. This is what the last verse of Zechariah 14 declares. Foreigners crept into the Levitical priesthood from the Nethinims (Canaanite bondservants Israel was not able to destroy per God's commandment. See Judges 2 & 3, 1 Kings 9).

10 And the Levites that are gone away far from Me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from Me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.

Again, both symbolic 'houses' of Israel rebelled and were guilty of that, and were thus scattered out of the land for it, only a small remnant of the "house of Judah" returned to Jerusalem, as it still is to this day the majority of Israelites, the ten tribes, are still scattered among the Gentiles.

11 Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up Mine hand against them, saith the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.
13 And they shall not come near unto Me, to do the office of a priest unto Me, nor to come near to any of My holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.
14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.

God isn't going to destroy those Levites that erred when Israel went astray. But as ministers in the future Millennial Sanctuary, the idea is they will be in charge of menial tasks to serve as a type of shame.

15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister unto Me, and they shall stand before Me to offer unto Me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
16 They shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table, to minister unto Me, and they shall keep My charge.

Belay the idea of literal sacrifices. We now have sacrifices of praise towards The Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

The name "Zadok" means The Just. Lord Jesus Christ is the Melchizedek that met Abraham, and Melchi-zedek in Hebrew means King of The Just. This Zadok here is being applied in the generic sense for the saved in Christ, His elect priests and kings that will reign with Him, and serve Jesus at His table in that future time.

17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
19 And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.
20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.
21 Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
22 Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.

Belay those parts about marrying. Lord Jesus explained in The New Testament how those of the resurrection will be; they don't marry nor take in marriage, but are as the angels of God.

23 And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to My judgments: and they shall keep My laws and My statutes in all Mine assemblies; and they shall hallow My sabbaths.

The above is what Christ's elect Zadok priests will be doing during His future "thousand years" reign on earth. Those that erred will be taught the difference between what is holy vs. what is profane, and the difference between what is clean vs. unclean. And those who erred will stand in judgment all throughout the "thousand years".


25 And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.
KJV

It must be remembered, that at Paul's "last trump", the 7th Trumpet, ALL... peoples are going to be either resurrected or 'changed' to the "spiritual body". None will be in a flesh body any longer after Christ's future return. I know most in the Church teach that the change to the "spiritual body" is only for Christ's Church, but that is not true per Isaiah 25 which hints of the casting off of these flesh shells happening for everyone, the wicked included.

That means this "dead person" in that future Millennial time is about one that is unsaved, in the "outer darkness", and is spiritually dead without Christ, and thus not born again. The Zadok, for sake of a loved one that is unsaved in that, they may go outside the gates of the beloved city and minister to their spiritually dead relatives.