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Americans are gathered at Washing ton in the persons of their Senators and Representatives. When thus gathered, they will be separated one from another according to their char acter as “sheep” or “goats” (vs. 32, 33). It is the “Son of man,” with full knowledge and understanding, who separates them into the two classes. It is the “King,” with perfect equity and righteousness, who pronounces the judgment upon them. The “sheep” on His right hand are addressed first (vs. 34-40). They are called the “righteous” (v. 46), and the righteousness had been shown in their treatment of the King’s brethren. They were unconscious of the signifi cance of their actions when they fed the hungry and clothed the naked, and so on, but they are told that they were to receive the kingdom, prepared by the Father, because of what they had done. This occurrence cannot in volve eternal salvation, or being bom again, or becoming members of the church, the body of Christ. But it means the privilege of entering and enjoying the kingdom which the Lord Jesus will establish upon the earth. In that kingdom all will dwell in peace and harmony, and throughout the earth will be prosperity and Con tentment (cf. Isa. 2:1-4; and many other such prophecies). The “goat” (v. 33) nations on the left hand are next addressed (vs. 41- 45). They are rejected from the king dom and go away into punishment (v. 41). They are not the "cursed” (v. 41) of the Father, as the “sheep” are "blessed of my Father” (cf. v. 34). The “curse” is upon them because of what they are by nature. The reason for their rejection is plainly stated (vs. 42, 43). It is be cause of their treatment of "my brethren” (v. 40), which is unlike the treatment given by the "sheep” na tions. He was hungry and they did not feed Him, naked and they did not clothe Him, and so on. As with the "sheep” nations, these are astonished and ask when such treatment had been denied. The answer is, “Inas much as ye did it not to one of the least of these [my brethren], ye did it not to me” (v. 45). Who are the “ brethren” in this pas sage? They cannot be the “sheep” and they cannot be the “goat” nations. Neither of these had anything to do with the other. But both “goats" and “sheep” had to do with “my brethren.” Hence the “ brethren” are the" literal brethren, nationally, of the King and of the Son of man. They are the god ly remnant among the Jews during the time of their future great tribula tion. In that, day they need the ministry of sympathy anS supply rendered by the “sheep” and withheld
her child, “The doctor says to take this for your fever. He once gave me these pills for the same kind of fever, and they helped me.” The child would be foolish to think that just because his mother had once taken the reme dy, he himself did not need it. Some boys and girls, as Well as grownups, are this way about accepting Christ. We are reminded of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus. He learned much about his spiritual condition. Christ told him what to do in order that his condition might be cured. In Matthew 19:22 we read of his foolish action, “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sor rowful: for he had great possessions.” We think of this man as being very foolish, but let us not be foolish too —having learned of salvation, yet fail to receive it. Outline ond Exposition I. T he T ime of T his J udgment (31) J ESUS is coming again to earth, Is not the final judgment of individ uals (cf. Rev. 20:11-15), nor the judg ment of the believers’ works (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10). It is the judgment of living notions, and is still in the future, awaiting the sec ond coming of Christ according to prophecy (cf. Joel 3:11-14; Matt. 13:49, 50). II. T he J udgment I tself (32-45) It should be kept in mind that this is the judgment concerning national actions, and not individual dealing of man with man, or even of man with God. "All nations" will be gath ered before the Lord Jesus Christ who has come to sit upon the throne of His glory (v. 31). It is not necessary to suppose that all individuals of all nations w ill be present, but all na tions will be there in the persons of their representatives, just as all B LA C K B O A R D LESSON
took It, It would not help him. There are those who admire Christ’s life and teachings, but never take Him as their personal Saviour. It is not enough to admire Him—He must be accepted as Saviour before the deadly spiritual sickness can be cured. If pills are to be of benefit to a sick person, they must be taken by him personally. A mother might say to
MARCH 18, 1945 JESUS’ TEACH ING ABO U T JUDGMENT M atthew 22:34-46; 23 to 25
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man ehall eo™e In his glory, and all the holy angel* with him, then enall he alt upon the throne of his glory; 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divldeth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on hit right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was ahungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me In: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was In prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee ahungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee In? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done It unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done It unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was ahungered, and ye gave me no meat: l was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not In: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, say ing, Lord, when saw we thee ahungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in orison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying. Verily l say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did It not to me. 46 And these shall go away Into ever lasting punishment: but the righteous Into life eternal. LESSON T E X T : Matt. 25:31-46. GOLDEN T E X T : "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This Is the first and great commandment. And the second Is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matt. 22:37-39). DEVOTIONAL READING) Jas. 1:17-27.
with power and great glory, and at that time the judgment men tioned In this passage will occur. It
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