Last Sunday in the Church Year
November 20th, 2005
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Wieting
Text: Matt. 25:31-46
Grace to you and peace from Him who was and who is and who is to come. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Time is ticking away! Time is running out! Fifteen years have gone by since you called me to serve as your pastor. Our Son Mark who soon hopes to be taller than his father doesn’t remember that time at all.
Time is ticking away! Time is running out! The appointed readings for this Sunday remind us that with each passing day the world is moving toward its appointed end. And so are you for Scripture says, “It is appointed for men once to die, and then the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “In Adam all die!” As we sang in the Introit, “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am.” Time is ticking away!
Time was also running out for Jesus and He knew it! His teaching about separating sheep and goats on Judgment Day was the last teaching He would give to His disciples before the events of Maundy Thursday and His death on Good Friday. Since entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus’ teaching and acting had been the center of attention. Tension had been rapidly building. He had cleansed the temple and foretold its destruction. He told parables of the two sons and of the wicked stewards in the vineyard and of those too busy to come to the wedding feast. He warned of love growing cold and of sudden judgment as at the time of Noah and the flood. He told parables of the ten virgins and the talent, hidden and wasted. His teaching then reached a crescendo in the Gospel appointed for today, in the judgment of the nations. This teaching was not a parable! Time is ticking away! This is the future event that will bring the curtain down on the earth, when heaven and earth pass away.
This judgment scene immediately precedes the recording of Jesus’ suffering and resurrection. This judgment scene is the definitive conclusion to the prior teachings of Jesus. In the courtroom on Judgment Day Jesus will be the judge. In the final judgment unbelievers will be revealed. On the Last Day the time of grace will be ended. Then, there will be no more opportunity to hear the message of Advent that we will soon hear again, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
God who is now able to set aside the enormous debt of a sinful servant (Matt. 18:21-35) will then no longer change the sentence of those who have acted uncharitably toward Jesus’ brothers (25:40). Those who have treated Jesus’ disciples with contempt will receive the condemnation Jesus promised them (Matt 10:15-23). Jesus’ judgment will be based on how seriously his followers took to heart his teachings as seen in their treatment of those who bore His Word. The King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
The separation that Jesus sets forth here is not a new idea. John predicted that Jesus would separate the chaff from the wheat (Matt. 3:12). Earlier Jesus spoke of separating the wheat and the tares (Matt. 13:25-40) and the good fish from the bad fish (13:47-50). The consistent witness of Scripture is that there are only two categories into which all of mankind will be divided. This is a separation based not on race or wealth or community standing or perceived human kindness. This is a separation based upon Christ and His Church and in our text it is put forward as sheep and goats. “Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.”
On the surface it appears that this separation takes place on the basis of one’s benevolent treatment of the poor and needy in general. And this God teaches His people to do. When His people have the goods of this world He would have them remember those who do not, both inside and outside the church. But God is not teaching here that human charity is the key to unlock heaven.
Note carefully Jesus’ own words, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (v.40). The “least” Jesus speaks of are His brothers, His followers. Acceptance or rejection of Jesus’ followers involves acceptance or rejection of the Sender Himself. As Jesus said to the disciples He sent out, “He who listens to you listens to me, he who rejects you rejects me” (Lk. 10:16). Or as He said at another time, “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in My name BECAUSE YOU BELONG TO CHIRST will certainly not lose His reward” (Mk. 9:41).
This text does not teach anyone to judge their standing on Judgment Day based upon how charitable or merciful they think they are. This is what the religions of man do naturally. This is what almost all funeral eulogies offer as the basis for comfort. But those blessed by the Father in our text were not looking at their own charity. They kept no record of their attention to those who were hungry or naked or prisoners because of persecution for Christ. They had in no way counted on deeds of love to get recognition. In fact, they were surprised by the Lord’s commendation. “The righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we…feed you…or give you drink…or clothe you…or visit you?” They weren’t aware of their good works for their eyes were on Jesus, their Lord.
Such is not the case with those who are eternally cursed. They protest their guilty sentence and appeal to their good works. “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” They thought they had covered all the bases. Lord, how can you say that we have fallen short? We supported charities. We did as much or more than the next person. By all indications they were sincere and well-meaning people. But it doesn’t matter. No matter how good their works were, they were not good enough. Their eyes were on their good works and not on the Lord they were addressing.
Jesus once said ‘Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but He who does the will of my Father in heaven.” The protest of the goats revealed that they did not believe in Christ as the Father willed. Their faith was not in Christ but in themselves. They called Jesus ‘Lord’, but they had sought to make their own way. They believed they had done enough to make their future secure. They ultimately demand to be judged by their works and they are. “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Such is the verdict for all who seek to be justified by the law (Rom 3/Gal 3).
What an amazing paradox! Those who are saved see nothing in themselves. Those who are damned see nothing lacking in themselves. They are pleased with their ministries to others. What an indispensable picture of the only righteousness that stands before God on Judgment Day! True righteousness sees no righteousness in itself! “Lord, when did we do this?” False righteousness expects to be called good and argues when it isn’t. ”Lord, when did we…not help you?” Jesus makes clear the reason for the separation, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
To me! You see, Christ is the heart and center of this text. Over thirty times in these few verses Jesus uses titles or pronouns referring to Himself. He is not egotistical. But He is the one and only reason for the separation in the judgment! Thank heaven for that separation! It is the best of news! By nature we are all sinful goats separated from God. If Jesus hadn’t come to divide us from our sinfulness and our failure to do God’s will, eternal separation from God would be the judgment for all people of all nations. “But God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”.
Listen again to what He says to those on his right. “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Did you hear it? Jesus will say, “come…inherit the kingdom.” You can’t earn an inheritance! You can’t purchase an inheritance! The only thing you can do is to receive it joyfully purely as a gift! It is something acquired by another that is simply given to you.
That’s what Jesus was in Jerusalem to do, to acquire this inheritance for you. It was “prepared for you from the foundation of the world”, but it was won for you when Christ came into the world in the flesh. It was won for you just three days after Jesus spoke these words. Then, He was regarded as a stranger, even by His own disciples, and no one took him in. Then, He was imprisoned only to see a notorious prisoner Barabbas set free in preference to Him. He was thirsty but no water was offered to Him. He hung naked in shame and no one clothed him. He was sick to the point of death and no one tended to Him. Jesus Himself became the least of the brothers so that you and I might become sons of God.
Dear Christians, the single goal of His life was ransoming us sinners. If God were to judge by what we deserved, then on Judgment Day there would be one man on the right, one holy sheep, and all the others on the left, you and I included. He is the only sheep who properly takes in strangers and feeds them with the bread of life and perfectly clothes the naked with His own righteousness. But God poured forth His wrath in judgment on Him as our substitute on Calvary. Jesus in fact saw His crucifixion as the moment of judgment. It was a day of clouds and thick darkness on which He rescued us scattered ones.
By God’s free grace and favor, the one true sheep is also the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. On the Day of Judgment God roared from on high and said to His beloved son, “Cursed are you”, “depart from me”. On the Day of Judgment God damned the sin of the world in His own Son on the tree of the cross. There also came the day when God took you to that place of judgment baptizing you into the death of Christ (Rom. 6) and clothing you with Christ (Gal. 3).
As time ticks away on this church year do you think you are lacking in some of what you should have accomplished? Thank God you do so! Do you see the goat in you wanting to justify him or herself? Thank God you do! Do you look at your treatment of Christ’s most insignificant followers and believe you are lacking in visiting and feeding and caring and supporting and clothing them? Thank God! For time is ticking away, also toward Judgment Day. “O Lord, make me know my end and the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am.”
But hear this! “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive…Christ the firstfruits, than at his coming those who belong to Christ.” Death could not hold him! It cannot hold you! The inheritance that He has given to you is one of life and love, not of death and separation. The same blood which flowed from His wounds on the cross is the same Blood He bids you to drink today – why – for the remission of sins. He who is coming back soon in judgment comes now to refresh you with the fruit of the Judgment He has borne for you. He bore it all.
That’s where the grand surprise comes from on Judgment Day! Do you see what Jesus is doing through you? You never will fully and that is good for your eyes are to be fixed on Jesus, not yourself. But the little things you do are huge because you are in Christ. Feeding and teaching a Christian child, honoring and obeying Christian parents, working patiently as a Christian in your vocation, just hanging in there under suffering, defending those who are mocked for confessing Christ, supporting the proclamation of the Gospel with your money, aiding Christian sufferers in sickness or suffering. In fact all that you do in obedience to the commandments and in love for your neighbor is no small matter because of Christ. You will be judged by the works God does for you in Christ. When God sees Christ in you He sees Christ’s works flowing from you.
It’s not the works your eyes or your heart are set on. Nor should they be. “Lord, when did we…do this?” It is the Lord your eyes and your heart are set on – as well they should be. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” To Me! There is only one name under heaven by which men are saved. It is not your own. It is your savior’s name. He Himself seeks out His scattered sheep. He judges between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. He destroys the fat and the strong. But, He brings back the strayed. He binds up the injured. He strengthens the weak. He feeds His sheep on good pasture and rich pasture and makes them lie down in good grazing land. He, the Son of David, the King of kings, is their shepherd.
Time is running out on our earthly lot. But in the deepest sense that is good news. He who is coming back is our Bridegroom. He has rescued us from the coming wrath. He would have us anticipate His return with courage and joy. He would have us pray with hope and confidence “Thy kingdom come”.
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions.” According to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which dwells righteousness.” Grace to you and peace from Him who was and who is and who is to come. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Wieting
Text: Matt. 25:31-46
Grace to you and peace from Him who was and who is and who is to come. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Time is ticking away! Time is running out! Fifteen years have gone by since you called me to serve as your pastor. Our Son Mark who soon hopes to be taller than his father doesn’t remember that time at all.
Time is ticking away! Time is running out! The appointed readings for this Sunday remind us that with each passing day the world is moving toward its appointed end. And so are you for Scripture says, “It is appointed for men once to die, and then the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “In Adam all die!” As we sang in the Introit, “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am.” Time is ticking away!
Time was also running out for Jesus and He knew it! His teaching about separating sheep and goats on Judgment Day was the last teaching He would give to His disciples before the events of Maundy Thursday and His death on Good Friday. Since entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus’ teaching and acting had been the center of attention. Tension had been rapidly building. He had cleansed the temple and foretold its destruction. He told parables of the two sons and of the wicked stewards in the vineyard and of those too busy to come to the wedding feast. He warned of love growing cold and of sudden judgment as at the time of Noah and the flood. He told parables of the ten virgins and the talent, hidden and wasted. His teaching then reached a crescendo in the Gospel appointed for today, in the judgment of the nations. This teaching was not a parable! Time is ticking away! This is the future event that will bring the curtain down on the earth, when heaven and earth pass away.
This judgment scene immediately precedes the recording of Jesus’ suffering and resurrection. This judgment scene is the definitive conclusion to the prior teachings of Jesus. In the courtroom on Judgment Day Jesus will be the judge. In the final judgment unbelievers will be revealed. On the Last Day the time of grace will be ended. Then, there will be no more opportunity to hear the message of Advent that we will soon hear again, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
God who is now able to set aside the enormous debt of a sinful servant (Matt. 18:21-35) will then no longer change the sentence of those who have acted uncharitably toward Jesus’ brothers (25:40). Those who have treated Jesus’ disciples with contempt will receive the condemnation Jesus promised them (Matt 10:15-23). Jesus’ judgment will be based on how seriously his followers took to heart his teachings as seen in their treatment of those who bore His Word. The King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
The separation that Jesus sets forth here is not a new idea. John predicted that Jesus would separate the chaff from the wheat (Matt. 3:12). Earlier Jesus spoke of separating the wheat and the tares (Matt. 13:25-40) and the good fish from the bad fish (13:47-50). The consistent witness of Scripture is that there are only two categories into which all of mankind will be divided. This is a separation based not on race or wealth or community standing or perceived human kindness. This is a separation based upon Christ and His Church and in our text it is put forward as sheep and goats. “Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.”
On the surface it appears that this separation takes place on the basis of one’s benevolent treatment of the poor and needy in general. And this God teaches His people to do. When His people have the goods of this world He would have them remember those who do not, both inside and outside the church. But God is not teaching here that human charity is the key to unlock heaven.
Note carefully Jesus’ own words, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (v.40). The “least” Jesus speaks of are His brothers, His followers. Acceptance or rejection of Jesus’ followers involves acceptance or rejection of the Sender Himself. As Jesus said to the disciples He sent out, “He who listens to you listens to me, he who rejects you rejects me” (Lk. 10:16). Or as He said at another time, “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in My name BECAUSE YOU BELONG TO CHIRST will certainly not lose His reward” (Mk. 9:41).
This text does not teach anyone to judge their standing on Judgment Day based upon how charitable or merciful they think they are. This is what the religions of man do naturally. This is what almost all funeral eulogies offer as the basis for comfort. But those blessed by the Father in our text were not looking at their own charity. They kept no record of their attention to those who were hungry or naked or prisoners because of persecution for Christ. They had in no way counted on deeds of love to get recognition. In fact, they were surprised by the Lord’s commendation. “The righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we…feed you…or give you drink…or clothe you…or visit you?” They weren’t aware of their good works for their eyes were on Jesus, their Lord.
Such is not the case with those who are eternally cursed. They protest their guilty sentence and appeal to their good works. “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” They thought they had covered all the bases. Lord, how can you say that we have fallen short? We supported charities. We did as much or more than the next person. By all indications they were sincere and well-meaning people. But it doesn’t matter. No matter how good their works were, they were not good enough. Their eyes were on their good works and not on the Lord they were addressing.
Jesus once said ‘Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but He who does the will of my Father in heaven.” The protest of the goats revealed that they did not believe in Christ as the Father willed. Their faith was not in Christ but in themselves. They called Jesus ‘Lord’, but they had sought to make their own way. They believed they had done enough to make their future secure. They ultimately demand to be judged by their works and they are. “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Such is the verdict for all who seek to be justified by the law (Rom 3/Gal 3).
What an amazing paradox! Those who are saved see nothing in themselves. Those who are damned see nothing lacking in themselves. They are pleased with their ministries to others. What an indispensable picture of the only righteousness that stands before God on Judgment Day! True righteousness sees no righteousness in itself! “Lord, when did we do this?” False righteousness expects to be called good and argues when it isn’t. ”Lord, when did we…not help you?” Jesus makes clear the reason for the separation, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
To me! You see, Christ is the heart and center of this text. Over thirty times in these few verses Jesus uses titles or pronouns referring to Himself. He is not egotistical. But He is the one and only reason for the separation in the judgment! Thank heaven for that separation! It is the best of news! By nature we are all sinful goats separated from God. If Jesus hadn’t come to divide us from our sinfulness and our failure to do God’s will, eternal separation from God would be the judgment for all people of all nations. “But God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”.
Listen again to what He says to those on his right. “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Did you hear it? Jesus will say, “come…inherit the kingdom.” You can’t earn an inheritance! You can’t purchase an inheritance! The only thing you can do is to receive it joyfully purely as a gift! It is something acquired by another that is simply given to you.
That’s what Jesus was in Jerusalem to do, to acquire this inheritance for you. It was “prepared for you from the foundation of the world”, but it was won for you when Christ came into the world in the flesh. It was won for you just three days after Jesus spoke these words. Then, He was regarded as a stranger, even by His own disciples, and no one took him in. Then, He was imprisoned only to see a notorious prisoner Barabbas set free in preference to Him. He was thirsty but no water was offered to Him. He hung naked in shame and no one clothed him. He was sick to the point of death and no one tended to Him. Jesus Himself became the least of the brothers so that you and I might become sons of God.
Dear Christians, the single goal of His life was ransoming us sinners. If God were to judge by what we deserved, then on Judgment Day there would be one man on the right, one holy sheep, and all the others on the left, you and I included. He is the only sheep who properly takes in strangers and feeds them with the bread of life and perfectly clothes the naked with His own righteousness. But God poured forth His wrath in judgment on Him as our substitute on Calvary. Jesus in fact saw His crucifixion as the moment of judgment. It was a day of clouds and thick darkness on which He rescued us scattered ones.
By God’s free grace and favor, the one true sheep is also the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. On the Day of Judgment God roared from on high and said to His beloved son, “Cursed are you”, “depart from me”. On the Day of Judgment God damned the sin of the world in His own Son on the tree of the cross. There also came the day when God took you to that place of judgment baptizing you into the death of Christ (Rom. 6) and clothing you with Christ (Gal. 3).
As time ticks away on this church year do you think you are lacking in some of what you should have accomplished? Thank God you do so! Do you see the goat in you wanting to justify him or herself? Thank God you do! Do you look at your treatment of Christ’s most insignificant followers and believe you are lacking in visiting and feeding and caring and supporting and clothing them? Thank God! For time is ticking away, also toward Judgment Day. “O Lord, make me know my end and the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am.”
But hear this! “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive…Christ the firstfruits, than at his coming those who belong to Christ.” Death could not hold him! It cannot hold you! The inheritance that He has given to you is one of life and love, not of death and separation. The same blood which flowed from His wounds on the cross is the same Blood He bids you to drink today – why – for the remission of sins. He who is coming back soon in judgment comes now to refresh you with the fruit of the Judgment He has borne for you. He bore it all.
That’s where the grand surprise comes from on Judgment Day! Do you see what Jesus is doing through you? You never will fully and that is good for your eyes are to be fixed on Jesus, not yourself. But the little things you do are huge because you are in Christ. Feeding and teaching a Christian child, honoring and obeying Christian parents, working patiently as a Christian in your vocation, just hanging in there under suffering, defending those who are mocked for confessing Christ, supporting the proclamation of the Gospel with your money, aiding Christian sufferers in sickness or suffering. In fact all that you do in obedience to the commandments and in love for your neighbor is no small matter because of Christ. You will be judged by the works God does for you in Christ. When God sees Christ in you He sees Christ’s works flowing from you.
It’s not the works your eyes or your heart are set on. Nor should they be. “Lord, when did we…do this?” It is the Lord your eyes and your heart are set on – as well they should be. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” To Me! There is only one name under heaven by which men are saved. It is not your own. It is your savior’s name. He Himself seeks out His scattered sheep. He judges between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. He destroys the fat and the strong. But, He brings back the strayed. He binds up the injured. He strengthens the weak. He feeds His sheep on good pasture and rich pasture and makes them lie down in good grazing land. He, the Son of David, the King of kings, is their shepherd.
Time is running out on our earthly lot. But in the deepest sense that is good news. He who is coming back is our Bridegroom. He has rescued us from the coming wrath. He would have us anticipate His return with courage and joy. He would have us pray with hope and confidence “Thy kingdom come”.
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions.” According to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which dwells righteousness.” Grace to you and peace from Him who was and who is and who is to come. Amen.
posted by Luther Memorial Chapel at
11/23/2005
