Sermon Talkback–November 23, 2008
Matthew 25:31-46
The Judgment of the Nations
This well-known passage is neither parable nor apocalyptic. Instead, it narrates a straightforward account of a theology of the final judgment. Jesus is the classic judging Son of Man; he is the shepherd of the sheep and goats; he is the king on his throne; he is the son of his Father; he is one of the least of his family.
Who is Being Judged?
The central question is who is being judged and who are “the least of these my brothers (and sisters)”? Three possibilities:
1. For most of Christian history, the most common reading was that all people, Christian and non-Christian, are being judged. It was also generally assumed that “the least of these my family members” refer to Christians. Thus, all people were being judged by how they treated Christians, especially, the least powerful of the Christians.
2. In the last few centuries, some readers have pointed out that the term, “nations” in Matthew refers to non-Christian gentiles. Thus, in this reading, non-Christians are being judged by how they treated Christians.
3. The most popular reading in recent times is that the nations refers to everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike, and that “the least of these my family members” refers to any child of God anywhere. Thus, each person is being judged by how they treated each person.
All three are reasonable readings of this text, but the most persuasive is the last.
The Judgment
The scene opens with the arrival of the Son of Man, who comes with his angels and sits on the throne. It is not clear where this throne is. But it is assumed that it is in some unnamed place on earth. Notice that there is no deliberation; decisions have already been made. At this point, the Son of Man, acting a bit as a shepherd, simply enforces prior decisions by separating the whole of humanity into sheep and goats. Goats here are normally referred to as “young male goats” destined for slaughter. There is no room in this scene for those being judged to make their own case or try to persuade the judge. Matthew’s focus is on watchfulness (Matt. 24:36ff) and preparedness (ten bridesmaids, Matt. 25:1ff). Once the Son of Man arrives, it is too late to influence the outcome.
The criteria of judgment are how one treats these people—the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner. The Torah and the Sermon on the Mount underscore this demand. All humans are ultimately judged by how they treated these people.
What is unexpected is how Jesus insists on confusing his identity with the identity of these vulnerable people. To feed the hungry is to feed Jesus. In spite of many sermons, our needful neighbor is not literally Jesus. Still, some kind of overlapping of identity, even confusion of faces, is suggested in this imagery. Ultimately, we serve God by serving one another. The Sermon on the Mount contains a striking instance: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (6:21).
For Discussion
Who in our communities are the “hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick or the prisoner?”
When you care for these, the least of them, how did you feel? Did you find Jesus?