The separation of the sheep and goats disturbs me as it is meant to. We are stirred up to do something about injustice in our world. When Jesus comes again in glory, it won’t be as a helpless baby. He will be surrounded by angels and every eye will see him. Jesus is not tiny. He is huge, majestic, splendid and glorious. He comes as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Those who haven’t believed in him and those who have ignored his teaching will take notice for he comes to judge the quick and the dead. The nations will be gathered before him and he will separate people one from another. This is not a case of all Muslim nations going to hell and all so called Christian nations going to heaven. Jesus separates the people within nations. National identities no longer matter. He separates people in the same way a shepherd separates sheep from goats. Goats and sheep look so alike in the Middle East that it is very difficult for anyone other than the shepherd to tell the difference. King Jesus is all powerful. He makes the decisions about our destiny. We cannot present our case or argue with his decision. He knows what we have done with our lives and our innermost thoughts, whether they have been loving or selfish. That’s scary! All of those standing before God’s judgement throne are shocked. Neither the sheep nor the goats appear to have had a previous relationship with Jesus. The sheep are invited to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. They are blessed by Jesus’ heavenly Father and brought into a place of joy. This is their reward for providing Jesus who they didn’t recognise with food and drink, for welcoming him even though he was a stranger to them, for clothing him when he was naked, for caring for him when he was sick and for visiting him in prison. When Jesus was speaking he knew he was going to experience all those things in the coming week as he suffered and died on Calvary. His disciples who loved him dearly were not going to provide any of those things. Does this mean they were not going to be welcomed into God’s Kingdom when it comes in all of its fullness and power? All the disciples were going to feel abject failures during the following weeks. We are human beings and limited in what we are able to give and do when faced with the evils of our day. We can identify with being both a sheep and a goat. We inevitably help some and ignore others. What we do depends upon what we are faced with. Just as Jesus identified with us in having a human birth and upbringing, he identifies with us in our poverty and helplessness. The sheep were welcomed to a Kingdom of joy because they had looked after the least in Christ’s family and in doing so they had looked after him. The goats on the other hand had failed to provide for the least in Christ’s family and were consequently consigned to the eternal fire prepared, not for them, but for the devil and his messengers. As followers of Jesus who worship and love him, we need to remind ourselves that when we respond to the needs of the poor we are responding to Jesus himself. When St Francis felt an outpouring of love for the leper and reached out to kiss him he saw the face of Christ and his life was changed. He joyfully dedicated his life to caring for the least in Christ’s family. Seeing Jesus in the eyes of the least transforms them and us. We see their beauty as humans created in the image of God. Loving them is a way of loving Jesus in human flesh. It transforms cold giving in response to a need into an act of worship. When the church is under pressure it is not her valuables that our most precious treasure but the poor in her midst. Was Jesus speaking to reassure or unsettle his disciples? This passage raises many questions. Are we are saved because of what Christ has done for us alone, by works of righteousness or both? Will we be standing before God’s throne on the occasion described or will we as the dead in Christ have already gone to meet him in the air? The previous chapter, Matthew 24 speaks of the angels gathering the elect from the four corners of the earth. Matthew was speaking to a persecuted church, suffering hunger, thirst, sickness, imprisonment and death. There were humane human beings who were not followers of Christ who cared enough to help and there were those who added to their pain. Some think Jesus spoke these words to reassure the persecuted members of his family that justice will come. Those who don’t know Jesus will be judged by the way they treated his body, the church. If they have cared for the poor Jesus will invite them into his Kingdom. If they have persecuted Christians, they have persecuted Christ and will be condemned to eternal punishment. Does this mean that as Christians we are let off and spared from the judgement to come? All we have and are is laid bare before King Jesus. Whilst I do not believe we will stand before Jesus in his final judgement of this world, we will be judged. Our faith in the Lord Jesus, Paul says in Ephesians, is outworked in love for each other. Unlike those who haven’t yet got a relationship with our Lord we have immeasurable resources to draw on in Christ. We are his body on earth, full of power, love, wisdom and glory. One day Jesus will ask us what we have done with the resources we have been given in him. Have we chosen love of the least, whose basic needs are not being met over self-comfort? We live in an age and a week of unprecedented greed and hunger. National and individual debts have become larger this year. Whilst this happens most years, COVID 19 has led to unprecedented borrowing. Since the call went out from David Cameron’s government for a Big Society, we have seen a reliance on the parish and other churches and faiths communities to supply basic needs, to give debt advice, provide shelter for the increasing number of homeless, to provide job clubs, toddler groups, food banks etc. Throughout lockdown the government has been keen the support given for the least in our society continues even when it puts elderly church members at risk. They have been less keen to acknowledge that Christian love comes through Christ who we worship. As our worship services have been closed down and our buildings locked, may we find new ways of spending time in Christ’s presence so that we minister from the love and fullness he fills us with rather than a hole inside. Until Jesus returns in his glory and sweeps away injustice, may others see Jesus in us through our loving, active, caring compassion.
The separation of the sheep and goats disturbs me as it is meant to. We are stirred up to do something about injustice in our world. When Jesus comes again in glory, it won’t be as a helpless baby. He will be surrounded by angels and every eye will see him. Jesus is not tiny. He is huge, majestic, splendid and glorious. He comes as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Those who haven’t believed in him and those who have ignored his teaching will take notice for he comes to judge the quick and the dead. The nations will be gathered before him and he will separate people one from another. This is not a case of all Muslim nations going to hell and all so called Christian nations going to heaven. Jesus separates the people within nations. National identities no longer matter. He separates people in the same way a shepherd separates sheep from goats. Goats and sheep look so alike in the Middle East that it is very difficult for anyone other than the shepherd to tell the difference. King Jesus is all powerful. He makes the decisions about our destiny. We cannot present our case or argue with his decision. He knows what we have done with our lives and our innermost thoughts, whether they have been loving or selfish. That’s scary! All of those standing before God’s judgement throne are shocked. Neither the sheep nor the goats appear to have had a previous relationship with Jesus. The sheep are invited to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. They are blessed by Jesus’ heavenly Father and brought into a place of joy. This is their reward for providing Jesus who they didn’t recognise with food and drink, for welcoming him even though he was a stranger to them, for clothing him when he was naked, for caring for him when he was sick and for visiting him in prison. When Jesus was speaking he knew he was going to experience all those things in the coming week as he suffered and died on Calvary. His disciples who loved him dearly were not going to provide any of those things. Does this mean they were not going to be welcomed into God’s Kingdom when it comes in all of its fullness and power? All the disciples were going to feel abject failures during the following weeks. We are human beings and limited in what we are able to give and do when faced with the evils of our day. We can identify with being both a sheep and a goat. We inevitably help some and ignore others. What we do depends upon what we are faced with. Just as Jesus identified with us in having a human birth and upbringing, he identifies with us in our poverty and helplessness. The sheep were welcomed to a Kingdom of joy because they had looked after the least in Christ’s family and in doing so they had looked after him. The goats on the other hand had failed to provide for the least in Christ’s family and were consequently consigned to the eternal fire prepared, not for them, but for the devil and his messengers. As followers of Jesus who worship and love him, we need to remind ourselves that when we respond to the needs of the poor we are responding to Jesus himself. When St Francis felt an outpouring of love for the leper and reached out to kiss him he saw the face of Christ and his life was changed. He joyfully dedicated his life to caring for the least in Christ’s family. Seeing Jesus in the eyes of the least transforms them and us. We see their beauty as humans created in the image of God. Loving them is a way of loving Jesus in human flesh. It transforms cold giving in response to a need into an act of worship. When the church is under pressure it is not her valuables that our most precious treasure but the poor in her midst. Was Jesus speaking to reassure or unsettle his disciples? This passage raises many questions. Are we are saved because of what Christ has done for us alone, by works of righteousness or both? Will we be standing before God’s throne on the occasion described or will we as the dead in Christ have already gone to meet him in the air? The previous chapter, Matthew 24 speaks of the angels gathering the elect from the four corners of the earth. Matthew was speaking to a persecuted church, suffering hunger, thirst, sickness, imprisonment and death. There were humane human beings who were not followers of Christ who cared enough to help and there were those who added to their pain. Some think Jesus spoke these words to reassure the persecuted members of his family that justice will come. Those who don’t know Jesus will be judged by the way they treated his body, the church. If they have cared for the poor Jesus will invite them into his Kingdom. If they have persecuted Christians, they have persecuted Christ and will be condemned to eternal punishment. Does this mean that as Christians we are let off and spared from the judgement to come? All we have and are is laid bare before King Jesus. Whilst I do not believe we will stand before Jesus in his final judgement of this world, we will be judged. Our faith in the Lord Jesus, Paul says in Ephesians, is outworked in love for each other. Unlike those who haven’t yet got a relationship with our Lord we have immeasurable resources to draw on in Christ. We are his body on earth, full of power, love, wisdom and glory. One day Jesus will ask us what we have done with the resources we have been given in him. Have we chosen love of the least, whose basic needs are not being met over self-comfort? We live in an age and a week of unprecedented greed and hunger. National and individual debts have become larger this year. Whilst this happens most years, COVID 19 has led to unprecedented borrowing. Since the call went out from David Cameron’s government for a Big Society, we have seen a reliance on the parish and other churches and faiths communities to supply basic needs, to give debt advice, provide shelter for the increasing number of homeless, to provide job clubs, toddler groups, food banks etc. Throughout lockdown the government has been keen the support given for the least in our society continues even when it puts elderly church members at risk. They have been less keen to acknowledge that Christian love comes through Christ who we worship. As our worship services have been closed down and our buildings locked, may we find new ways of spending time in Christ’s presence so that we minister from the love and fullness he fills us with rather than a hole inside. Until Jesus returns in his glory and sweeps away injustice, may others see Jesus in us through our loving, active, caring compassion.
We are blessed and have a responsibility to use all the gifts God has given us, whether they are gifts of time, talents, family, friends or material wealth for his glory. Jesus gave all he had for us. We are called to live our lives for him Matthew’s parable pictures the Lord’s return when there will be separation between those invited to enter the Kingdom and those who are not. Jesus tells the story just before he is going to endure the horror of crucifixion and journey through, death, resurrection and ascension to be with his heavenly Father in heaven. As the man in the story entrusted his property to his slaves, so Jesus entrusted his work on earth to anyone who would follow him. He was also speaking to the religious elite giving them a clear invitation to follow him and use what they had been given well. The man in the story is generous and caring. He gives to each of his slaves according to their ability. It’s not that he has favourites and hates others. He knows the abilities and personalities of his slaves well and what they are capable of and what they would find difficult. One talent alone was worth the equivalent of twenty years wages for the average labourer so five talents equivalent to 100 years work. It represented a huge amount of money. The master’s understanding of his slaves was accurate. The two slaves given the most use their talents wisely and double their money. The slave that was given the least hid his talent Sometimes when we look at others we and their abilities we can be overcome by fear, jealousy and all sorts of negative emotions We can even be angry with God, for not giving us the same abilities, wealth or opportunities in life as others. God loves all of us, whatever our background, race, gender or abilities. He can use us whatever age we reach, in sickness and in health. There was a time when I was depressed and couldn’t cope any longer with teaching. I felt a failure and couldn’t find the energy to keep sending sick notes in. I was ashamed. Several years later in my curacy I was confronted by a group of people who were mentally ill, who couldn’t relate to successful leaders at all. The breakthrough which enabled us to minister to each other was the sick note which I had kept. It was an unlikely talent and I could have chosen to bury it. If I had done so I would have missed God’s best for me. This parable teaches us that all we have are gifts from God, freely given for a time. The end comes suddenly, (Thessalonians says like a thief in the night). The master will return and we will have to give an account of ourselves. Our gifts and all we have belong to God, whether we offer them freely in his service or not. The master in the story was angry with the slave who buried his talent. He told him that if he at least had put it in the bank, it would have earned interest. Today, when you put money in the bank you might preserve some of it but it will devalue rapidly. Jesus is not advertising banks here. He’s telling us not to waste what we have been given. The two slaves who doubled their money weren’t compared with each other. They were both commended as good and trustworthy and they both received the same reward. They hadn’t been faithful in everything. They had only been faithful in a few things. However, they both received their master’s well done and were put in charge of many things. Trustworthy, good people develop enabling them to take on more responsibilities. The faithful slaves were rewarded with more and their master’s approval. They were invited to enter into the joy of their Lord, a place of happiness, peace and blessedness. This parable appears to be about using our potential. Rewards are given the same way they are given in the workplace or at school. We do not get to into heaven through our works however but through God’s undeserved love. This is made clear when we look at the response of the slave who had one talent. He had a false view of his master and sees him as a man who reaps where he does not sow and gathers where he has not scattered, aggressively seeking to expand his estate to make a profit. The slave buried the money because he was afraid. I wonder what we are afraid of. What stops us using our gifts to extend God’s Kingdom? Using our talents to the full requires courage. We all meet setbacks. Jesus doesn’t automatically take our fear away. Some things we have to do afraid in the knowledge that our fear will be cast out both by God’s love for us and the love he places within us for others. When we love, our love grows. The religious elite were so keen to preserve the law that they had buried it hiding it’s true purpose. They hadn’t put it into action. Instead of growing in love for God and their neighbour they were growing in hate. Instead of entering into the joy of their Lord they were plotting to kill him. COVID 19 has changed our world. Rich nations such as the UK and the USA have suffered hugely. We need to labour with our Lord for a world that is better than the one before; a world where love and justice reigns, where getting the biggest profit and hoarding isn’t revered by others. Thessalonians shows us that dark times are like a pregnant woman’s labour pains. Painful suffering comes upon us suddenly. Without God placing new life within us and helping us we cannot give birth to the new. We labour together with the Lord for the birth of a new creation. Until that day we are to live as if the new had already come. We walk in the light of the Lord’s presence because in him we are already citizens of the Kingdom of heaven. God doesn’t see us as slaves but as children of the light. We are to keep awake and be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love. When we are under attack, our defence is Christ, his love for us and our love for him and others. Because of Jesus we have hope so instead of despairing we are to put on as a helmet the hope of salvation. We can have confidence in God’s love. However awful things are God has not destined us for outer darkness. He has destined us to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ that whatever happens we will live together with him.
We are blessed and have a responsibility to use all the gifts God has given us, whether they are gifts of time, talents, family, friends or material wealth for his glory. Jesus gave all he had for us. We are called to live our lives for him Matthew’s parable pictures the Lord’s return when there will be separation between those invited to enter the Kingdom and those who are not. Jesus tells the story just before he is going to endure the horror of crucifixion and journey through, death, resurrection and ascension to be with his heavenly Father in heaven. As the man in the story entrusted his property to his slaves, so Jesus entrusted his work on earth to anyone who would follow him. He was also speaking to the religious elite giving them a clear invitation to follow him and use what they had been given well. The man in the story is generous and caring. He gives to each of his slaves according to their ability. It’s not that he has favourites and hates others. He knows the abilities and personalities of his slaves well and what they are capable of and what they would find difficult. One talent alone was worth the equivalent of twenty years wages for the average labourer so five talents equivalent to 100 years work. It represented a huge amount of money. The master’s understanding of his slaves was accurate. The two slaves given the most use their talents wisely and double their money. The slave that was given the least hid his talent Sometimes when we look at others we and their abilities we can be overcome by fear, jealousy and all sorts of negative emotions We can even be angry with God, for not giving us the same abilities, wealth or opportunities in life as others. God loves all of us, whatever our background, race, gender or abilities. He can use us whatever age we reach, in sickness and in health. There was a time when I was depressed and couldn’t cope any longer with teaching. I felt a failure and couldn’t find the energy to keep sending sick notes in. I was ashamed. Several years later in my curacy I was confronted by a group of people who were mentally ill, who couldn’t relate to successful leaders at all. The breakthrough which enabled us to minister to each other was the sick note which I had kept. It was an unlikely talent and I could have chosen to bury it. If I had done so I would have missed God’s best for me. This parable teaches us that all we have are gifts from God, freely given for a time. The end comes suddenly, (Thessalonians says like a thief in the night). The master will return and we will have to give an account of ourselves. Our gifts and all we have belong to God, whether we offer them freely in his service or not. The master in the story was angry with the slave who buried his talent. He told him that if he at least had put it in the bank, it would have earned interest. Today, when you put money in the bank you might preserve some of it but it will devalue rapidly. Jesus is not advertising banks here. He’s telling us not to waste what we have been given. The two slaves who doubled their money weren’t compared with each other. They were both commended as good and trustworthy and they both received the same reward. They hadn’t been faithful in everything. They had only been faithful in a few things. However, they both received their master’s well done and were put in charge of many things. Trustworthy, good people develop enabling them to take on more responsibilities. The faithful slaves were rewarded with more and their master’s approval. They were invited to enter into the joy of their Lord, a place of happiness, peace and blessedness. This parable appears to be about using our potential. Rewards are given the same way they are given in the workplace or at school. We do not get to into heaven through our works however but through God’s undeserved love. This is made clear when we look at the response of the slave who had one talent. He had a false view of his master and sees him as a man who reaps where he does not sow and gathers where he has not scattered, aggressively seeking to expand his estate to make a profit. The slave buried the money because he was afraid. I wonder what we are afraid of. What stops us using our gifts to extend God’s Kingdom? Using our talents to the full requires courage. We all meet setbacks. Jesus doesn’t automatically take our fear away. Some things we have to do afraid in the knowledge that our fear will be cast out both by God’s love for us and the love he places within us for others. When we love, our love grows. The religious elite were so keen to preserve the law that they had buried it hiding it’s true purpose. They hadn’t put it into action. Instead of growing in love for God and their neighbour they were growing in hate. Instead of entering into the joy of their Lord they were plotting to kill him. COVID 19 has changed our world. Rich nations such as the UK and the USA have suffered hugely. We need to labour with our Lord for a world that is better than the one before; a world where love and justice reigns, where getting the biggest profit and hoarding isn’t revered by others. Thessalonians shows us that dark times are like a pregnant woman’s labour pains. Painful suffering comes upon us suddenly. Without God placing new life within us and helping us we cannot give birth to the new. We labour together with the Lord for the birth of a new creation. Until that day we are to live as if the new had already come. We walk in the light of the Lord’s presence because in him we are already citizens of the Kingdom of heaven. God doesn’t see us as slaves but as children of the light. We are to keep awake and be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love. When we are under attack, our defence is Christ, his love for us and our love for him and others. Because of Jesus we have hope so instead of despairing we are to put on as a helmet the hope of salvation. We can have confidence in God’s love. However awful things are God has not destined us for outer darkness. He has destined us to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ that whatever happens we will live together with him.
