89 chapter project: Matthew

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End time ... when the endless story enters the stage! Tis larger than mortals envision ... the catchment of a greater psyche ... godsol?
 
paradox3 said:
Reflection: Matthew 25:1-46

Jesus continues preaching about end times and the final judgement.

The three parables are all familiar ones but somehow I had never connected them with end times. Or even realized where they fell in the narrative of the gospel.

A few months ago in church, our guest preacher talked about Good Goats: Healing Our Image of God by Dennis Linn, Matthew Linn and Sheila Fabricant Linn. The message was that we are all goats and sheep at various times in our lives and people can't be separated easily into the two groups. The righteous might even be considered "good goats".
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My thoughts on the sheep and the goats...

Matthew describes the judgment. Doomsday will come.

Jesus here presents his triumph. He'll come in glory, accompanied by angels, and will cause all the nations to gather before him. He'll then separate the people into two separate places, as a shepherd keeps the sheep separated from the goats.

There are only two divisions on the last day. In one or the other of the two groups will everyone will find themself. That is the Judgment's first act, the separating.

The sheep are those to whom Jesus has given saving faith. The goats are those whom Jesus has passed by.
 
paradox3 said:
The message was that we are all goats and sheep at various times in our lives and people can't be separated easily into the two groups. The righteous might even be considered "good goats".
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Various times in our lives? How about from minute to minute, second to second, in our every thought. Some thoughts are selfish, some are selfless. You can train yourself not to react purely upon your thought of the moment, but on a considered decision of the wisest course. However, in the moment, words and actions spill out of you, unconsciously, that are ALWAYS a mix of "sheep" and "goat" (which honestly, are allegorical figures that are less meaningful in a society which has no working relationship with either), of helpful and hurtful.
 
Jae said:
My thoughts on the sheep and the goats...

Matthew describes the judgment. Doomsday will come.

Jesus here presents his triumph. He'll come in glory, accompanied by angels, and will cause all the nations to gather before him. He'll then separate the people into two separate places, as a shepherd keeps the sheep separated from the goats.

There are only two divisions on the last day. In one or the other of the two groups will everyone will find themself. That is the Judgment's first act, the separating.

The sheep are those to whom Jesus has given saving faith. The goats are those whom Jesus has passed by.
Click to expand...

This analysis is disconnected from the parable. Jesus does not speak of "His" choice to save humanity or otherwise. He speaks of humanity's choice(s) in every moment, to help their fellow in need, or not to. And to be willing to be judged, on some level, as having chosen not to.
 
The "inasmuch" sayings are critical here, I would say.

"Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of My brethren, you did it to me." (25:40 NKJ)

"Inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me" (25:45 NKJ)

I don't see Jesus demanding faith in Himself at all.
 
I can't see that demand either. The distinction seems to be on the sensitivity and response to the need of another human being, not on setting one's seal of approval on a set of doctrinal statements.
 
And very specific needs of humans, as well. Practical needs: clothing, comfort in prison, water, food, shelter. Meeting the primary Maslow hierarchy needs and trusting that humanity can meet their own spiritual needs when their bodily needs are attended to.
 
Heaven is a reward for believer's faith, as shown in the kind deeds to the lowliest Christians: feeding, giving drink, showing hospitality, clothing, visiting the sick and imprisoned; these are outward expressions of love flowing from Christ's love as a sign of faith.

Christ will judge the world in righteousness, making these kind deeds the basis of his judgment; for it's impossible to perform even the smallest kind act in Christ's spirit without faith in Christ. Christ tells believers that such humble, selfless works are the best way to serve him.
 
Jae said:
in the kind deeds to the lowliest Christians
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You're reading into the text that which is not there. Jesus does not use the word, just "the least". You're torturing the true meaning of the parable. "Neighbour" and "least" are allegorical of "all humanity". I'm beginning to be prepared to not limit this to humanity, but the entire circle of life.
 
BetteTheRed said:
You're reading into the text that which is not there. Jesus does not use the word, just "the least". You're torturing the true meaning of the parable. "Neighbour" and "least" are allegorical of "all humanity". I'm beginning to be prepared to not limit this to humanity, but the entire circle of life.
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"And the king answering shall say to them, Truly I say to you, as long as ye did to one of these my least brethren, ye did to me." - Matthew 25:40 (WYC).

Who are Jesus' brethren Bette?
 
If all of humanity has been created in God's image, then all of humanity has at least some relation to God. Otherwise, creation in imago Dei is meaningless.
 
paradox3 ---your quote ----It was quite shocking for me to learn that the four gospels were not eye witness accounts.

unsafe says ----Luke says they were eyewitnesses ------So who are we to say they aren't -----OH! Ye of little Faith

verse 2 --read


Luke 1 (GW)
Luke Writes to Theophilus
1 Many have attempted to write about what had taken place among us.

2 They received their information from those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of God’s word from the beginning, and they passed it on to us.

3 I, too, have followed everything closely from the beginning. So I thought it would be a good idea to write an orderly account for Your Excellency, Theophilus. 4 In this way you will know that what you’ve been told is true.



unsafe says ----Peter says this about eyewitnesses -----verse 2 read

2 Peter 1:16-21 (GW)
Pay Attention to God’s Words

16 When we apostles told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we didn’t base our message on clever myths that we made up. Rather, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes.

17 For example, we were eyewitnesses when he received honor and glory from God the Father and when the voice of our majestic God spoke these words to him: “This is my Son, whom I love and in whom I delight.”

18 We heard that voice speak to him from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

19 So we regard the words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You’re doing well by paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning star to rise in your hearts.

20 First, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.

21 No prophecy ever originated from humans. Instead, it was given by the Holy Spirit as humans spoke under God’s direction.



This article is worth the read ------

10. Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel

10. Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel


unsafe says ---So for all the people --scholars etc who say the Gospels were not eyewitness accounts -----there is evidence that says there was ------so it is all up to what we want to believe about scripture and what we don't want to believe ------

And here is the thing God says Himself His Word is Truth -----eyewitness accounts or not we are to believe by Faith that what is written in Scripture is the truth without any evidence ------that is what real unseen Faith is

 
Redbaron said:
If all of humanity has been created in God's image, then all of humanity has at least some relation to God. Otherwise, creation in imago Dei is meaningless.
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I believe that while everyone is created by God, not everyone is God's child.

"But how many ever received him, he gave to them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name; the which not of bloods, neither of the will of flesh, neither of the will of man, but be born of God." - John 1:12-13 (WYC).

It is the people spoken of here whom I hold to be Christ's brethren.
 
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