claninja
Well-Known Member
Matthew 25:44-46
44 Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'
45 Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch 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 everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
I would argue this has to do with the judgment of Israel because the context leading up to the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 21-24 is about the judgment of Israel.
Matthew 21:33-45 = parable of wicked tenants: destruction of Israel and kingdom going to another nation
Matthew 22:1-14 = parable of marriage feast: destruction of Israel and kingdom going to others
Matthew 23:1-39 = woes to Pharisees and Jerusalem for killing the prophets.
Matthew 24: prediction of jerusalem temple destruction and coming of son of man which will happen during the disciple's generation
Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, and Luke 9:27 all tell us that the son of man/kingdom of God will come before some of Jesus' disciples taste death. We also know that Christ is seated at the right hand of God on his throne.
Sheep= Gentiles and remnant elect Jews; Those who did not pursue righteousness but did obtain it. Notice the sheep's humble response in the parable of the sheep and goats. They did not even know they were doing righteousness for God. This fulfills what Isaiah 65:1 and what Paul says in Romans 9-11. T
Matthew 25:37-38 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’
Romans 9:30
That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith;
Romans 10:20
“I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
Goats=hardened Israel; Those who pursued the law, but did not obtain righteousness. Notice the goat's self righteous response below. They pursued righteousness, but did not obtain it. Paul explains in this Romans 9-11
Matthew 25:44
Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’
Romans 9:31
but that Israel who pursued the righteousness which is based on law did not succeed in fulfilling that law.
My point is that this parable, when taken in context, is not about a future time from us, but about the end of the age/world and judgment for Israel as God's chose people.
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