From J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on Matthew Matthew 27:27-44
“We must not be content with a vague general belief, that Christ’s sufferings on the cross were vicarious. We are intended to see this truth in every part of His passion. We may follow Him all through, from the bar of Pilate, to the minute of His death, and see him at every step as our mighty Substitute, our Representative, our Head, our Surety, our Proxy,—the Divine Friend who undertook to stand in our stead, and by the priceless merit of His sufferings, to purchase our redemption.—
Was He scourged? It was that “through His stripes we might be healed.”—
Was he condemned, though innocent? It was that we might be acquitted though guilty.—
Did He wear a crown of thorns? It was that we might wear the crown of glory.—
Was He stripped of His raiment? It was that we might be clothed in everlasting righteousness.—
Was he mocked and reviled? It was that we might be honored and blessed.—
Was He reckoned a malefactor, and numbered among transgressors? It was that we might be reckoned innocent, and justified from all sin.—
Was he declared unable to save Himself? It was that He might be able to save others to the uttermost.—
Did He die at last, and that the most painful and disgraceful of deaths? It was that we might live for evermore, and be exalted to the highest glory.—
Let us ponder these things well. They are worth remembering. The very key to peace is a right apprehension of the vicarious sufferings of Christ. Let us leave the story of our Lord’s passion with feelings of deep thankfulness. Our sins are many and great. But a great atonement has been made for them. There was an infinite merit in all Christ’s sufferings. They were the sufferings of One who was God as well as man. Surely it is meet, right, and our bounden duty, to praise God daily because Christ has died. Last, but not least, let us ever learn from the story of the passion, to hate sin with a great hatred. Sin was the cause of all our Saviour’s suffering. Our sins platted the crown of thorns. Our sins drove the nails into His hands and feet. On account of our sins His blood was shed. Surely the thought of Christ crucified should make us loathe all sin. Well says the Homily of the Passion, “Let this image of Christ crucified be always printed in our hearts. Let it stir us up to the hatred of sin, and provoke our minds to the earnest love of Almighty God.”
Ryle, J. C. 1860. Expository Thoughts on Matthew. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
Truth be known, I’m pretty uncoordinated. I was never going to excel in any form of athletics no matter how hard I tried. I have enough trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time.
Now to some extent, we all have a number of things we do simultaneously. Many of us wear multiple hats at once. Mom’s and wives. Dad’s and employees. Students and children and friends and siblings and participants in sports, music, and all sorts of other activities.
Some of these things can co-exist, and some can’t.
You can be either awake or asleep, but you cannot multitask those two things no matter how hard you try. They are mutually exclusive. You cannot sneeze and keep your eyes open. You cannot stand and sit at the same time. You can’t listen and speak at one and the same moment, nor sing a blow a trumpet. These cancel each other out.
Know what else you can’t do at the same time?
You can’t listen to FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, Glenn Beck, C-SPAN, the BBC, The Drudge Report, etc. – and obey the passage above at the same time.
It can’t be done.
You will have to make a choice.
One, will lead to the reality of the God of peace being with you, and the others, will actually attack that reality and leave you in turmoil, doubt, fear and distress.
Choose.
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, or immerse yourself in the flotsam and jetsam of this world.
There are few who argue that this passage is not interesting, wonderful and not easy to apply.
It is interesting in the details.
They are gathered in the house of a leper, Simon by name. The company appears to be Mary, Martha, Lazarus, the Disciples and Simon – with perhaps Simon’s family.
To have gathered there, one of two things had to be true: Either this man had been notably cleansed of his leprosy by Jesus; or, the entire group were tossing off convention in favor of being with him. The latter seems unlikely, especially given the way the Disciples respond to the Woman’s breaking of convention. It is most likely that this was a man who had known the mercy and grace of Christ in a most extraordinary way.
It is interesting to see Mary so powerfully moved at this moment, so as to lavish something valued at around a year’s wages on Jesus. How deeply she must have felt at this moment.
It is interesting to hear the Disciple’s objection. As Craig Blomberg notes: “Many people with social consciences find the disciples’ objection the same as their own. Those preoccupied with the oppressed and needy of the world often quarrel with any lavish expenditure of monies for church architecture, pageantry, worship, or celebration, however well-intentioned and honoring to Christ they may be. There are in fact times and places for all of this extravagance. So also with M’Neile, “To the few who today spend themselves mainly on worship and meditation (whom Mary again exemplifies in Lk. 10:39–42) active ‘workers’ are warned not to say ‘To what purpose is this waste?’ ” Or with Beare, “The beauty of uncalculating generosity is not to be measured by the yardstick of utility.”11 Blomberg, Craig. 1992. Matthew. Vol. 22. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
As a pastor I’ve confronted this same mindset several times, especially over discussions surrounding buildings. A strange form of Evangelical asceticism suddenly arises and eclipses any notion of wanting to see things done in Christ’s name done with excellence, in favor of appearing humble. But can we ever really be too extravagant when extolling the wonder of Christ’s sacrifice for sinners? J. C. Ryle writes here: “We can never attach too much importance to the atoning death of Christ. It is the leading fact in the word of God, on which the eyes of our soul ought to be ever fixed. Without the shedding of his blood, there is no remission of sin. It is the cardinal truth on which the whole system of Christianity hinges. Without it the Gospel is an arch without a key-stone, a fair building without a foundation, a solar system without a sun. Let us make much of our Lord’s incarnation and example, His miracles and his parables, His works and His words, but above all let us make much of His death. Let us delight in the hope of his second personal coming and millennial reign, but let us not think more even of these blessed truths, than of the atonement on the cross. This, after all, is the master-truth of Scripture, that “Christ died for our sins.” To this let us daily return. On this let us daily feed our souls. Some, like the Greeks of old, may sneer at the doctrine, and call it “foolishness” But let us never be ashamed to say with Paul, “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Gal. 6:14.)11 Ryle, J. C. 1860. Expository Thoughts on Matthew. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.
The text is clear, Jesus perceived this as a testimony to His death. And how can we celebrate that death too extravagantly? What can we rightly withhold in worship making His life, death and resurrection known?
It is wonderful in Jesus’ explication of what Mary had done. She had done what she had to “prepare me for burial.”
No, the question is – was she really cognizant of that reality? Or did Jesus put it so? We cannot be sure, but it is reasonable to assume she was acting in some real way aware.
It is quite possible she had heard Jesus announce His impending death as did the other Disciples. If in fact she had been made privy to His announcement that His death was just 2 days hence as recorded in vs. 2 – then what makes her so remarkable here – and what elicits Jesus’ declaration regarding her in vs. 13 is simply this – she really and truly took Him at His word. She believed Him. In a way the Disciples did not.
What is to be declared everywhere the Gospel is preached? That men believe it! That they believe it so as to order their lives around its reality. That they respond in faith. Just as Mary. The Gospel is not just to be heard, it must be believed. And when it is believed, people act on that belief as life-encompassing truth. Those who hear, and say they believe but act as though nothing is different because of glory of Jesus substitutionary death, burial and resurrection – then they have nothing but Jame’s faith without works – which is dead.
Not Mary. Her faith is living, vital, real. And it moves her. She believes her Savior. She learned to do so at the tomb of her brother. And she would never doubt Him again, even if she couldn’t parse out the details. Wherever and wherever this Gospel is proclaimed, what she did, how she received His Word, believed it and acted upon – is to be told as a supreme example of true, saving faith.
Some details in Scripture are so subtle, we can pass right over them without a second thought. I think we have something of that in the verses before us today.
J. C. Ryle frames the situation for us well: “We now approach the closing scene of our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. Hitherto we have read of His sayings and doings: we are now about to read of His sufferings and death. Hitherto we nave seen him as the great Prophet: we are now about to see Him as the great High Priest. It is a portion of Scripture which ought to be read with peculiar reverence and attention. The place whereon we stand is holy ground. Here we see how the Seed of the woman bruised the Serpent’s head. Here we see the great sacrifice to which all the sacrifices of the Old Testament had long pointed. Here we see how the blood was shed which “cleanseth from all sin” and the Lamb slain who “taketh away the sin of the world.” We see in the death of Christ, the great mystery revealed, how God can be just, and yet justify the ungodly. No wonder that all the four Gospels contain a full account of this wonderful event. On other points in our Lord’s history, we often find, that when one evangelist speaks, the other three are silent. But when we come to the crucifixion, we find it minutely described by all four.”1 1 Ryle, J. C. 1860. Expository Thoughts on Matthew. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.
While the language here cannot bear more weight than is intended, nevertheless we see this remarkable feature: It is only “WHEN” Jesus had finished all these sayings and announced once more His impending crucifixion, that the opposition which had been mounting all along – finally “THEN” gathered to plot their final actions.
As the Expositor’s Bible Commentary notes as well: “Certainly the opposition had been rising for some time…On the other hand, by placing 26:3–5 immediately after vv. 1–2, Matthew gives the narrative the flavor of God’s sovereign control. The leaders may plot; but if Jesus dies, he dies as a voluntary Passover sacrifice (vv. 53–54; John 10:18).11Carson, D. A. 1984. “Matthew.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, 8:523–24. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
O how we need to see the sovereign hand of God in it all.
Many may think that only one thing is going on in Jesus’ death – that wicked men are having their day. That darkness has its hour. That Satan murders the King. And while all those are true, it is also true that God is doing what He had foretold from the Garden on – that the Seed of the woman would at last crush the Serpent’s head. And so the evil of the Devil and those under his influence can only in the final analysis, actually accomplish God’s sovereign will in making the atonement for sin.
Beloved, this is what is happening in your life and mine as well – this very moment.
Yes, the World, the Flesh and the Devil conspire to enslave our souls to sin and keep us from our Redeemer. But the hand of the One who rules all is at work on our behalf. The Christian knows His loving Father’s sovereign hand in the most difficult, confusing, and painful circumstances no matter how involved the enemy of our souls may be.
For us, it is only “when” our God speaks, that “then” even the most wicked forces can act. And then it is we see the wonder of Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
The verse DOES NOT say all things are good in and of themselves. But in our Father’s hand, all that befalls us, is designed and used that we might know His glory, and come to greater good.
We may not be able to see how it is so in some situations, and may never know fully until eternity. But this we know, we can trust Him. And if even the “then” of Jesus’ enemies couldn’t transpire until the “when” of Jesus’ pronouncement – we can know He rules in our lives the same.
Ever heard of it? Me neither. Until just recently. In all places, in a Kevin Hart comedy.
What is it? Www.ADDitude.com defines it thus: “Dyscalculia is a math learning disability that impairs an individual’s ability to learn number-related concepts, perform accurate math calculations, reason and problem solve, and perform other basic math skills. 1. Dyscalculia is sometimes called “number dyslexia” or “math dyslexia.”
Now, why do I bring you this breaking news? Because maybe like me, you’ve suffered from this disability all your life, and it was never discovered. Taking a test today, I finally found out why math, after the rudimentary basics, scrambles my brain into oblivion.
In school, my one Guidance Counselor queried how it was I scored fairly high on my I.Q. Test, but flunked 9th grade math? Algebra was hugely anxiety producing. Both years. I barely passed the 2nd time. Geometry was little better. But one thing I knew, numbers, formulae, etc., were a dark and scary morass I had no business mucking around in.
The assumption and implications were, from teachers etc., that I just wasn’t applying myself. I was acing English. Did OK in History (except for dates, they practically mean nothing to me, I can’t retain them) my other courses were all breeze. But math. Math was wicked. Confusing. Illogical. It just plain made no sense.
Better than most with it, I can balance my checkbook. I can do basic calculations. At one time, I even got pretty proficient with spreadsheets. But beyond that, brother, I panic and freeze and numbers become the ultimate puzzle for which I do not have even a slight key.
It is frustrating beyond words.
But now I know something. I know that this is a diagnosable brain issue. It can be greatly helped by one-on-one tutoring – which I was never privy to. And by God’s grace it has not held me back in most areas – although in The Scriptures, while I can burrow into all things theological, I can barely retain chapter and verse locations. The numbers mess it all up.
It is just a relief to know. To know there is really something there, and I’m not just lazy.
A few years ago, I self-diagnosed myself as a “mathaphobe.” I said I have a genuine fear of numbers. A dear friend, a physics professor recommended I read “The Joy of X” by Steven Strogatz. I bought it, and got through the first 3 chapters and thought – “this is it, it’s all finally going to make sense!” Then chapter 4. Oh, the dreaded Ch. 4. I got lost every time within the first few pages. It utterly defied me. My mind just could not go there. 3 or four times I re-read the first 3 – where all was fine and dandy, and then I hit 4. And I was done. I couldn’t’ go a step further. I finally gave up.
Maybe you’ve got something like this in your life. I know I’ve had to go somewhere with it before God, and where I’ve ended up is Ex. 4 – when Moses told God he could not fulfill his mission because he could not speak well – for whatever reason, we do not know. And as the account goes: Exodus 4:10–11 (ESV): “But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”
Aha! Even our disabilities fall under the watchful, careful, loving eye and hand of our perfect Father. He designs even our challenges. And does so in perfect wisdom.
Someday, I’ll get the whole story. But for today, I get this: He is my Heavenly Father. And I can trust Him. Even in the things I cannot understand, and have to grapple with.
My God, is good.
I don’t get why I’ve had this particular thing to wrestle with. But I know Him. And I know it is best in His all-knowing and all loving eyes, that it be so.
Mine, is to trust Him. His, is to love me perfectly in Christ.
And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her; The LORD records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah Ps. 87:5-6
In human terms, it is common for us to both refer to and bear the marks of – our heritage.
I, am a native New Yorker. That brings peculiarities with it. When I am in the South, those things distinguish me. My accent, certain attitudes, etc.
Even more specifically, I am from Rochester – western NY. And that means I know what a garbage plate is, and until recently, Wegman’s (a local grocery chain) was uniquely ours. White hot dogs, the prominence of fish-frys on Fridays. NY pizza. Different from everywhere else. The Lilac Festival, what The Can of Worms was, and all sorts of other things mark me out. Not the least of which is the nasally way we say “Rahchester”.
In Matthew 26, when Peter was following Jesus to His mock trials, some bystanders marked Peter out as a Galilean due to his accent.
But what are the distinguishing marks of those born again into the new heritage of hailing from The City of God? What is our accent? How do our speech, our comportment, our attitudes, responses, values and motivations make us known as citizens of Zion?
Can people note something different about us? Like those in Acts 4:13, will people take note that we have “been with Jesus”?
Will they note what it is we love, and what it is we detest? Will they see us as a joyous people? Peaceful and seeking peace? Patient in trial in tribulation? Inherently kind? Upright in our dealings with others? Loyal and faithful to our Master and one another? Gentle in the face of opposition? And full of self-restraint?
Will they be able to know that we are filled with His Spirit because refuse to be drunk with wine and flee debauchery? Addressing fellow citizens of Zion with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs because we are forever making melody to the Lord in our hearts, and thus perpetually thankful to the Father in the name of Christ?
Bold but not brash. Steadfast but not unnecessarily rigid. Flexible but not compromising. Truthful and merciful at the same time. Seeking the best for the souls of others before the throne of God. Hopeful in the face of a disintegrating culture and world.
Will any be able to say after meeting us: “I know where they are from, they must have been born in Zion, the City of God?”
O may it truly be so. May our accent give us away every time.
Many is the time I’ve heard a Mother’s Day sermon preached on this passage. Maybe you have too. And there is no question that one considering marriage does well to consider the kinds of attributes displayed in this passage when choosing a prospective mate. One must remember however this is a collective of ideals. All will fall short in places. AND, women should keep in mind those passages which outline the character traits of a godly man before opting for someone to be one with. There are some pretty high standards to be found for men as well.
All that said, I think we may lose something of the broader application of this passage if we only see it in terms of human marriage. Along with the likes of the Venerable Bede, John Gill, Wordsworth, Ambrosius, Augustine, Harry Ironside, Robert Hawker, Peter Lillback and others – I see here something of great importance in describing what should be the nature of Christ’s Bride – The Church. Read that way, the passage gives us much to consider if the Church is painted with these colors.
Think about it –
Proverbs 31:10–11 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
Can Christ trust us that He will gain from our efforts? That we are committed to His interests?
Proverbs 31:12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
Do we do Him and His cause good? Or does His work or reputation suffer at our hands?
Proverbs 31:13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
Are we industrious for the Kingdom? Or just making do?
Proverbs 31:14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
Do we go to great lengths to get His choice Word for our souls?
Proverbs 31:15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
Do we labor secretly to see to it His Word is prepared for ourselves, His household, and for those who are close at hand?
Proverbs 31:16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Do we seek the growth of the Kingdom and set in motion plans to make it happen, that the Fruit of His vine might increase?
Proverbs 31:17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
Have we strengthened ourselves in the Lord? And clothed ourselves in His righteousness?
Proverbs 31:18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
Do we perceive how eternally valuable what we have in Him is – this ministry of the Word? Does His Word light us at all times?
Proverbs 31:19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
Are we busy producing the bare thread of what becomes the garments of righteousness?
Proverbs 31:20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Are we generous to the lost and those in need?
Proverbs 31:21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
Do we not fear evil and “cold” seasons because we have prepared well in Him? Prepared our hearts to trust Him at all times and in all things?
Proverbs 31:22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Do we make room for times of deep intimacy with Him? And do we adorn ourselves with the good works that make us attractive to Him?
Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
Have we protected Christ’s reputation in the marketplace?
Proverbs 31:24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Are we about the business of getting the garments of salvation out among the people?
Proverbs 31:25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
Are we strong in our relationship with Him and not fearful of the coming judgment because of it?
Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Are we making the Gospel known, and communicating it in kindness and compassion for the souls of men?
Proverbs 31:27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Are we mindful of the orderliness of His Household, and not disengaged or lazy in our labors within it?
Proverbs 31:28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Will those who come to Christ rise to bless our efforts on their behalf? Will the other saints? Will he?
Proverbs 31:29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
Are we admired by Him for how we have attended Him in faithfulness?
Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Have we been more occupied with making ourselves beautiful outwardly to the world, than about what pleases Him?
There are churches which specialize in charm – in appealing to tastes. And churches which specialize in the temporary beauty of the hour, being outwardly attractive. But the Church God praises, is the one that fears Him above all. This does not mean we ought to be purposefully unattractive or repellent, but it does mean fearing God will give us a sweet aroma and a beauty in the eye of the One we wish to please most.
Proverbs 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
If our reward is the fruit of what we’ve done in His name – will it prove sweet, satisfying and abundant?
Is the Church, are we – His excellent wife? Heavenly Father, make us so by Your Spirit.
Psalm 86 bears the title: “A Prayer of David.” And I love how David prays, as much as I need to look at what he prays for.
In the “how” column, he prays as a “poor and needy” man. Cognizant that he has nothing in himself.
He prays too as a “godly” man. Not perfect. Not righteous in himself. But one who looks to and desires to serve the one true and living God.
He prays to the Lord who is “good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” To the God who does “great and wondrous things.”
The “what” he prays for is notable as well.
Deliverance from opposing or oppressing enemies. That’s reasonable.
But the real sum and substance of his concern is in vs. 11 ” Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
a. To know God’s ways as taught from God Himself.
b. To walk in truth – in God’s reality.
c. And above all – that his heart might be united that he might fear God’s name.
How intriguing. A united heart.
A “united” heart; in other words, one that does not have any divided loyalties, but is wholly set upon finding its joy and satisfaction and fullness in Christ alone. One that fears God alone, and nothing nor anyone else.
So let’s pray with David today: Oh Holy Spirit, grant this heart to me! Heavenly Father, grant your Spirit to create this heart within this weak and brittle vessel. Give me, give we your servants, a singular, united heart – to fear your name. For the cause and glory of Christ we pray. Amen.
In the past number of years, many have noted how those leaving Evangelicalism, seem to be streaming into two tributaries: Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy.
For those who have come out of one of those two traditions into Gospel-centered, Christ-centered Biblical Christianity, it is virtually unthinkable. And yet, it is not without precedent. For after the Israelites were delivered from Egypt, many preferred to go back to the familiarity of their pagan captivity, and to the religious systems they began to imbibe there. It is the case (as my Dad used to say) that when there is no true regeneration, men will follow after “smells and bells” to try and make up for the void. It is the peculiar temptation and sin of the religious without the Spirit of Christ. And thus we read in Stephen’s discourse in Acts 7: “ Acts 7:39–43 (ESV): Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.”
Jude notes that in fact their problem, was unbelief, albeit dressed in the lush garb of idolatry.
If this trend troubles you, and you are looking for solid help I give you the following link to Doreen Virtue’s episode where she gives a platform to Pastor Samuel Farag. Raised in the Eastern Orthodox Church and converted to saving faith in Jesus, he exposes the real dangers behind Eastern Orthodoxy and by connection, Roman Catholicism in ways you may have never heard before. It is an eye-opening video. And more so as it progresses.
May the Lord be pleased to us this material to help many seduced into this false and blasphemous system to find freedom and faith in Christ.
We now come to the end of Jesus’ public teaching on the end times. It is both a sour and a hopeful note. Which, depends upon your relationship to Him in faith. J.C. Ryle writes: “There are few passages in the whole Bible more solemn and heart—searching than this. May we read it with the deep and serious attention which it deserves.” Ryle, J. C. 1860. Expository Thoughts on Matthew. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.
Note first, that we must beware of turning an analogical statement into a full orbed theological and doctrinal construct. This is a common error in our Bible study and interpretation, and an easy one to fall into. Jesus’ simple point is, that on the final day, He will separate Believers from unbelievers, and each will receive appropriately from His hand.
Some, mistakenly, have turn this parabolic statement into a construct of ontology. They see it as though the world is made up of people who are as fundamentally different by nature, as sheep are from goats. One confused soul even said to me once: “I was never a goat, I was always a sheep.” This is just confused.
Yes, the one who is saved by grace has become a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, born again by His grace and adopted into the Family of God. But we must never forget Paul’s words in Eph. 2 when marking out what ALL of us used to be: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Eph. 2:1-3)
Did you catch that last sentence? We were all, “by nature” children of wrath like the rest of mankind. There was no ontological, no constitutional difference between all human beings before salvation. We are all drawn from the same, fallen lump of Adam’s race.
As Don Carson is wont to say, we cannot make every simile, analogy or parable “walk on all fours.” We can over-interpret this way and end up distorting Scripture.
Note second: In the same vein as above, be careful to see that there is no attempt on Jesus’ part to turn “sheep” into believers everywhere sheep are mentioned in Scripture and “goats” everywhere they are mentioned into unbelievers. Sometimes, sheep are just sheep, and goats are just goats. All that is said here is that the Son will separate the believers from the unbelievers, in the same way a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The issue is separation, not ontological assignation.
Once again, if we press Jesus’ analogy too far, we’ll be at a real loss to deal with things like the Passover meal when instituted in Ex. 12; where the Israelites could select their Passover sacrifice from either the sheep or the goats, without distinction.
Note third: That the judgment for these two groups is different. One is rewarded for what they DID do, the other, punished for what they DIDN’T do. It is a most interesting dichotomy.
The Believer is rewarded according to his good acts, and the Unbeliever punished for his wicked acts.
Nothing that is holy but neglected will go undiscovered. Nothing done in earnest to serve Christ will go unnoticed either.
Note fourth: Both the terror and the glory of this one thing – It is Christ Himself who will sit as judge. Many a religionist fails to recognize that Jesus Himself is the judge. Yes, He is The Savior. Yes, He is the substitute. Yes, He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And yes, He will be our final judge. The omniscient, Son of God. The God who walked in human flesh and knows every heartache, every temptation, every opportunity, every obstacle, every circumstance we all have faced in this life. He, will judge us all. With the unsparing scrutiny of His omniscience. He is the Living Word, who discerns even the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Nothing will serve as a justifiable excuse for failure to reckon with the demand of the Gospel to find forgiveness and grace in Christ. He knows us. He knows all we face. He knows all of our circumstances. And no one will be able to exempt themselves from His all-seeing examination.
By the same token, nothing that any who are His have done because they are His, no matter how small, how seemingly insignificant, how unknown by any other human eye or ear – will go unrewarded.
Note fifth: Because of who He is – because He is God, and perfectly holy, He can neither over-punish, nor under-punish sin. He knows what the penalty of sin costs personally. He endured it on the Cross. And for the very same reasons, He can neither over-reward nor under-reward His saints in judgment. And yet, He is free to pour out of His limitless grace, infinitely more than our just rewards, for He makes Himself our inheritance. His eternal limitless self. The fountain of all goodness, grace, love, wonder and joy.
1 Pet. 1:3-9 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
ResponsiveReiding 