Outsiders
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will take his seat on his glorious throne, and all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” Matthew 25:31-32 NASB
Them – In a footnote to his commentary on Matthew, R. T. France says, “This ‘them’ is masculine plural rather than the neuter which would be required if it were a separation of nation from nation. The focus is now, and remains, on the individuals who make up ‘all the nations.’”[1] Sometimes footnotes are very important. This is one of those times.
Yeshua does not say He will distinguish between people groups, tribes, ethnic affiliations, or any other designation of conglomeration. He says He will separate every individual person according to that person’s performance of the task assigned. What? Doesn’t Yeshua simply accept everyone who espouses belief, who asks for forgiveness? Maybe not. Look that the preceding parable. It is quite familiar. It’s the parable about the Master who gives each of three servants a certain amount of financial assets (“talents of silver”). The Master returns, expecting to receive profit from the investment. Two servants perform well. One does not. The separation is based on the performance. The punishment for the one who merely returned what he was given is severe. More was expected – and demanded – than merely safekeeping. Each servant is individually responsible and individually accountable.
The parable and this concluding statement teach us two crucially important lessons. First, if you aren’t using what God puts into your hands with the intention of creating gain for Him, you are in a very risky position. Correct that immediately!
Secondly, in this view of the Kingdom, you stand alone. Your efforts or lack thereof are not mixed with the efforts of others. It makes no difference at all where you come from, what group you join, what affiliations you have. This one is up to you. When Yeshua separates, it won’t be on the basis of Christian vs. Jew or any other human differentiation. Yeshua will bring His sheep from everywhere on the basis of fruitful obedience. What you do matters.
One other implication is interesting. Since Yeshua spoke to first century Jews in Israel, no one would have imagined that He was speaking about separating “Christians” from Jews. That is hindsight exegesis. The obvious conclusion His audience would draw is that He will separate those who demonstrate productive obedience from those who do not. And in the first century Jewish context, this must include following the Torah. It would be unimaginable to think otherwise. I wonder if we read this verse from our own paradigm rather than from the paradigm of the audience.
Topical Index: separate, nation, performance, Matthew 25:31-32
[1] R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, NICNT, p. 935.
Skip….So based on today’s word, we are to conclude that believing in our hearts and confessing with our lips that Yeshua is Lord and Savior will not allow us to be saved…performance does matter? We need to earn our way into heaven?
Not at all. You are confusing grace with obedience. Remember the parable of the slave forgiven the enormous debt. Grace came first, showering forgiveness upon him although he did not deserve it and could never earn it. He was intended to absorb this beneficence and pass it on. But he didn’t. As a result, he proved himself unworthy of the grace he received and it was rescinded. He experienced grace as a free gift, but it came with expectations and obligations. When he refused to accept those obligations, he revoked the grace offered.
You did not EARN the grace of rescue and deliverance. God provided it through His son. But if you don’t follow up by living according to the expectations entailed in that grace, then you revoke it. Your performance doesn’t bring it about, but it does demonstrate that you are worthy of it AFTER THE FACT.
Got It…thanks. Makes sense. I guess it falls into the “To whom much is given….”
Blessings.
I appreciate the perspective of ‘segullah’ (God’s prized people) as a framework for understanding the belief/performance paradigm. I find myself continually going back to the post ‘Eden Revisited’ (posted 11/25/2010), to understand God’s expectations in regards to ‘faith’ vs. ‘works’. Among other things said in that post:
“There is an “inextricable association between being God’s segullah and the pursuit of holiness.” I don’t think God holds us responsible for every failure — but he is definitely concerned when we completely give up the pursuit.
~And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire~ (Revelation 20.15)
It is the Savior who separates. The sheep from the goats and the wheat from the tares. Those who are “in Christ” and those who are not. He is the final Judge. Not me..- this is far beyond my pay grade. It is my position/place to know whether I would be one of the sheep (those who belong to the Shepherd) or a goat (not a happy ending for these.)
It is also my privilege while here on this side of death to have G-d’s marvelous gift of choice. “Choose you (Carl) this day who you will serve..” And my answer? “As for me and my house.. we will serve (avad) ADONAI. We will serve the LORD. I may (amazingly) say it, know it, show it..(yes, by my ‘works’)- the LORD is my Shepherd. G-d is my Father and I am His son. “Behold, what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the sons of G-d: therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him either.” (1 John 3.1) According to the instructions of our Master-Teacher, “When you pray, say our Father..” (Luke 11.2)
I don’t know why we are so scared of works.. (those who are fearful..) We all (those who belong to the Shepherd) have been saved (1) by grace (2) through faith and (3) unto good works.. (Ephesians 2.8,9 (and 10!). If I see apples hanging from an apple tree- chances are pretty good that is an apple tree.. (oy).