The sheep and the goats?

[David Lamb]

David, have you ever read Matthew's gospel? I am not trying to insult you but have you ever considered what it says. If you believe the words of the gospel of Matthew the question would be answered. Consider what the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians who were having problems with the law.

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
For what purpose?
5 To redeem them that were under the law, (why?) that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Joshua 9:9
And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, (Reminds me of the kings in Luke 2 who came from the east to Bethlehem to worship him)

Isaiah 66:19
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

Jesus was glorified when he rose from the dead.

So, one of the 4 major reasons for the nation and people of Israel is for God to reveal his glory and power and person to the nations and to get fame through them as he worked out his redemption through them. The signs and miracles and prophesy through Israel in the OT made him well known among the nations and set him above all other gods that men worship.

So, I am going to ask our Lord Jesus to answer a gentile and at the same time answer your question.

Mt 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Mt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Here is Jesus ministering in the flesh to a certain nation, his own, under the economy of the law of Moses and preaching what he calls the gospel of the kingdom and directing his preachers to go only to those of the nation Israel and to preach the same gospel of kingdom. Do you believe the gospel they preached to Israel can get you saved today?

I hope you will answer this question.

Yes, I have read Matthew's gospel. The passage about the Canaanite woman continues:

“Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great [is] your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Mt 15:28 NKJV)

Similarly He healed the Roman centurion's servant, and said about him:

“When Jesus heard [it], He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Mt 8:10 NKJV)

I agree that Matthew aimed his gospel at a Jewish readership, yet it is part of God's word for all, Jew and Gentile alike.

 

[JD731]

Yes, I have read Matthew's gospel. The passage about the Canaanite woman continues:

“Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great [is] your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Mt 15:28 NKJV)

Similarly He healed the Roman centurion's servant, and said about him:

“When Jesus heard [it], He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Mt 8:10 NKJV)

I agree that Matthew aimed his gospel at a Jewish readership, yet it is part of God's word for all, Jew and Gentile alike.

Thanks David for your answer. The reason I did not quote all the conversation between Jesus and the gentile woman is because I anticipated your response would be exactly as it is. You would quote these verses as if they moderated or modified, altered, or otherwise changed the directive of the one who sent him. How did an act of grace and mercy from one whose character included grace and mercy overrule and change the divine directive.

Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

What Jesus did surely did not effect the directive of the Father because Jesus was in the process of going to the lost sheep of the house of Israel when these deeds occurred.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

I am wondering now out loud if any wondering took place in the crowd because of these things he did. This is called prep work for when the gentiles were included in the equation of salvation in his person. No doubt he received fame throughout the region because of these acts of grace..
So Jesus marvelled at her faith and she marvelled at his work. BTW, as a side note, faith has degrees. This was great faith. The Centurion had greatest faith exceeding any among the Israelites.

See this for the time gentiles will be included and by what basis.

The historical context is here:
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
The remainder of the gospel of John is in the context of this last week.

Jn 1220 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.


Timing is everything with God. These Greeks would not be justified by believing Jesus is the Christ, the son of God and his kingdom is at hand as was required of the Jews during the ministry of Jesus, but they will be saved by believing the gospel of the grace of God because he has died for them, was buried, and was raised again from the dead. This is when he was glorified.

The death of Jesus Christ for sin and his resurrection to propitiate God on behalf of all men of any age who will believe what he has revealed to them. But God the Father is the person of the Godhead who justifies.

Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

We know from history that God began justifying gentiles in Acts 10 with the Italian Cornelius in 40 AD when God poured out his Spirit on gentiles according to his own explanation of these events in Acts 11 when he through Peter informed the other apostles that this is what took place. He gave his Spirit , who is salvation, on the lone condition of them believing that Jesus willingly died for them and was buried and rose again from the dead. This is true from this point on throughout this age for all men everywhere.

In the next age God the Father will save those of Israel and gentiles who will believe in Jesus and also believe the the gospel of the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Those who will believe this will die instead of identifying with Satan through his required mark in their bodies.

God is in charge of who he will save and when he will save them and under what conditions.

I remind you of what Jesus said about that time in his Olivet Discourse.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world (kosmos) for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)

May Jesus Christ be high and lifted up and praised by this post. Amen!

 

[Van]

In Matthew 25: 31-46 Jesus teaches about the end of the age of grace. He will begin is Millennial reign, sitting on His thrown.

Some have read this passage and conclude, mistakenly in my opinion, that Christ's division will be based on works.

But I believe "giving to Christ what He needed" refers to giving Christ, by those physically living at that time, trust, love and commitment.

In verse 40 we see that the sheep are "brothers" [siblings] of Christ, thus those having been born anew as children of God.

And on the other left side, the goats are described as not giving Christ what He needed. Perhaps they had never heard the gospel because it was not presented or because like Soil #1, they had lost their ability to understand the spiritual milk of the gospel. And of course, the many who had sought the narrow door. but never finding it, would have failed to fully embrace the gospel, like Soil #2 or #3 of Matthew 13. Their love for and commitment to Christ was not sufficient, such that Christ would or had become the overriding priority of their lives.

The key take away here, as in Matthew 7:21-23 is to do the "will" of the Father, which John presents with crystal clarity:

​

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in [into] Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” [John 6:40 NASB]​

 

[Van]

The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” [Galatians 3:8]

Here we see "Nations" used to refer to both Jews and Gentiles, and that justification comes through individual faith, not a national culture. Thus Matthew 25:32 refers to separating individual sheep, Jew or Gentile, from individual goats, Jew or Gentile.

The Greek word translated usually as Gentiles or Nations refers multitudes of people or peoples. In Matthew 25:32, all the nations would be better translated as "all the peoples" because the individuals that are siblings of Christ will be separated to the right like sheep, and those not belonging to Christ we go to the left like goats.

 

[David Lamb]

Thanks David for your answer. The reason I did not quote all the conversation between Jesus and the gentile woman is because I anticipated your response would be exactly as it is. You would quote these verses as if they moderated or modified, altered, or otherwise changed the directive of the one who sent him. How did an act of grace and mercy from one whose character included grace and mercy overrule and change the divine directive.

I am embarrassed by the time and effort you must put into replying in such detail - thank you! I would say that when we look at what the bible as a whole says about Jesus coming from heaven to earth, we find that it was not only to the Jews. For example, we have these words of aged Simeon, as he held the infant Jesus:

“For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”” (Lu 2:30-32 NKJV)

If it was as you say, and He was sent only to the Jews, He wouldn't have healed, spoken to, or had any dealings with Samaritans, Romans and other Gentiles, yet He did.

Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

What Jesus did surely did not effect the directive of the Father because Jesus was in the process of going to the lost sheep of the house of Israel when these deeds occurred.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

I am wondering now out loud if any wondering took place in the crowd because of these things he did. This is called prep work for when the gentiles were included in the equation of salvation in his person. No doubt he received fame throughout the region because of these acts of grace..
So Jesus marvelled at her faith and she marvelled at his work. BTW, as a side note, faith has degrees. This was great faith. The Centurion had greatest faith exceeding any among the Israelites.

See this for the time gentiles will be included and by what basis.

The historical context is here:
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
The remainder of the gospel of John is in the context of this last week.

Jn 1220 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.


Timing is everything with God. These Greeks would not be justified by believing Jesus is the Christ, the son of God and his kingdom is at hand as was required of the Jews during the ministry of Jesus, but they will be saved by believing the gospel of the grace of God because he has died for them, was buried, and was raised again from the dead. This is when he was glorified.

The death of Jesus Christ for sin and his resurrection to propitiate God on behalf of all men of any age who will believe what he has revealed to them. But God the Father is the person of the Godhead who justifies.

Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

We know from history that God began justifying gentiles in Acts 10 with the Italian Cornelius in 40 AD when God poured out his Spirit on gentiles according to his own explanation of these events in Acts 11 when he through Peter informed the other apostles that this is what took place. He gave his Spirit , who is salvation, on the lone condition of them believing that Jesus willingly died for them and was buried and rose again from the dead. This is true from this point on throughout this age for all men everywhere.

In the next age God the Father will save those of Israel and gentiles who will believe in Jesus and also believe the the gospel of the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Those who will believe this will die instead of identifying with Satan through his required mark in their bodies.

God is in charge of who he will save and when he will save them and under what conditions.

I remind you of what Jesus said about that time in his Olivet Discourse.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world (kosmos) for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)

May Jesus Christ be high and lifted up and praised by this post. Amen!

How I agree with your closing words of praise! Thanks again for your reply.