WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:03.600 Let's turn over to the Gospel of Matthew this morning. 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:05.679 Matthew twenty-five. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:20.879 We'll take the end of this chapter this morning. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:30.640 Matthew twenty-five, starting with verse thirty-one and all the way down to the end of this chapter. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.679 Matthew twenty-five, thirty-one to forty-six. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:39.359 This is God's word. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:52.320 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:01:02.479 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:07.760 He will put the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:18.879 Then the king will say 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. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:22.079 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:24.799 I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:27.120 I was a stranger and you took me in. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:29.040 I was naked and you clothed me. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:30.879 I was sick and you took care of me. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:33.439 I was in prison and you visited me. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:41.280 Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:45.439 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:48.560 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:59.519 And the king will answer them, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:11.520 Then he will also say to those on the left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:18.319 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:26.400 I was a stranger and you didn't take me in, I was naked and you didn't clothe me, sick and in prison, and you didn't take care of me. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:35.840 Then they too will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or without clothes or sick or in prison and not help you? 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:47.280 Then he will answer them, Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:51.680 And they will go away into eternal punishment. 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:55.199 But the righteous into eternal life. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:58.000 Let's ask God's blessing again. 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:14.639 But we pray that you would help us to do that today. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:21.919 That we would take as we should and where we should, these words of deep and tremendous comfort. 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:30.560 And that we should take, as we should be sober and vigilant and thoughtful, these words of warning as well. 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:33.759 Do this by the power of your spirit, we pray. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:35.919 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:49.360 We've come this morning to the end of this chunk of Jesus' teaching in the last two chapters of Matthew that we've been going through, Matthew 24 and 25. 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:54.879 Sometimes it's known as the Olivet Discourse because Jesus taught from the Mount of Olives. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:04:04.960 And Jesus lands this teaching, he ends this teaching with words of incredible significance and eternal weight. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:09.439 And we want to understand and feel that weight today. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:18.480 Sometimes people think about this section of scripture, and they only or mainly want to think about contemporary events. 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:22.800 Of course, all scripture is given by inspiration of God, it's all profitable for us. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:26.399 But Jesus ends with heaven and hell. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:32.560 And we want the weight of our hearts and thoughts to be matching our Savior. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:42.240 On the last day, every human will either be rewarded or rejected. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:46.160 Those are the two stark alternatives in this passage. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:51.839 There's really ultimately no neutrality when it comes to following Jesus. 00:04:52.160 --> 00:05:07.120 So, regardless of what culture you live in, how many wars you've experienced, how much opposition you've experienced, regardless of whether your own culture or your own family is more friendly to Christian values or less family friendly to Christian values. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:17.759 No matter any of those differences, every human will either be rewarded or rejected. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:20.720 These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:25.279 Our passage presents some sharp contrasts. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:34.000 There's two groups, two fruits, and two destinies. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:36.800 Those are the contrasts in the passage. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:42.800 So there's two groups there's the sheep and there's the goats. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:45.279 And there's two fruits. 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:59.279 There's faithful service to the Lord, there's that fruit of the sheep, and then there's the fruit, or we could say lack of fruit, but there's no faithful service to the Lord. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:11.519 And there's ultimately two destinies eternal life on the one hand for the sheep, and eternal punishment, on the other hand, for the goats. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:25.360 That's true of everybody here, everyone who's ever lived, every human in the last day will either be rewarded or rejected. 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:33.120 So we're gonna work through the passage with those contrasts in mind, two groups, two fruits, two destinies. 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:34.720 And we'll start with two groups. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:36.560 Look again at verse 31. 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:44.879 When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:47.199 All the nations will be gathered before him. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:58.399 He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, he will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 00:06:58.959 --> 00:06:59.680 There it is. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:03.839 Only two categories, sheep and goats. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:09.040 Now, obviously, these animals are it's a metaphor for people. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:15.199 Jesus isn't saying there's something inherently wonderful about sheep or that goats are inherently bad. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:19.839 If you've ever had goat's milk or goat's cheese, you're not condemned. 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:22.319 But there's a point to this metaphor. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:27.279 Shepherds have to distinguish between the sheep and the goats. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:29.600 And Jesus is the good shepherd. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:33.519 And often in Scripture he refers to his people as sheep. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.360 Listen to some other places. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:37.519 Psalm 78, 52. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:41.680 He led his people out like sheep and guided them like a flock. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:47.199 Psalm 79, 13, then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:50.560 We will declare your praise to generation after generation. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:57.199 Psalm 100, acknowledge the Lord is God, He made us, we are His, His people, the sheep of His pasture. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:07:59.680 Ezekiel 34, 11. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:00.959 This is what the Lord God says. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:05.040 See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:11.920 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:17.360 Isaiah 40, verse 11, he protects his flock like a shepherd. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:19.920 He gathers the lambs in his arms. 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:27.920 Do you hear in those verses that I read, the main thing about the sheep is that they have a shepherd. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:32.159 The main thing is not that they stick together, that they're compliant. 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:35.440 The main thing is they have a shepherd. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:38.159 They have a good shepherd in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:49.600 And the Bible tells us not only that there is a good shepherd, Jesus, that sheep he has that belong to him, the good shepherd actually loves his sheep and sacrifices himself for them. 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:53.679 Even in our passage, we see Christ referred to in different ways. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:56.240 In verse 31, he's called the Son of Man. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:58.799 In verse 34, he's called the King. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:02.000 In verse 37, he's referred to as Lord. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:08.159 So those titles, so accurate, so appropriate, his authority, his judgment will come to that. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:16.080 But notice in verse 32, this son of man, this king, this Lord functions as a shepherd. 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:24.799 Isaiah 53, 6, the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:26.960 We like sheep have gone astray. 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:29.039 He took the punishment. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:35.919 Or think about John chapter 10, where Jesus says, Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:40.480 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:41.919 I am the gate. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:47.519 If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:50.240 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:53.360 I have come so that they might have life and have it in abundance. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:54.879 I am the good shepherd. 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:59.279 The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:04.720 And that leaves the goats. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:11.519 And perhaps some of you here today wondering, well, I don't know if I'm a sheep or a goat. 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:14.879 Or maybe I am a goat. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:17.759 Consider God has brought you here. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.879 Hear the voice of the shepherd today. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:23.279 Turn from your own way today. 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:29.360 Turn from your ignorance, your self-centeredness, your rebellion. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:30.960 I know those are strong words. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.159 You might think, well, I'm not really opposed to the Lord. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:36.480 I'm just kind of neutral. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:40.240 But again, there's no neutrality in the last day. 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:45.440 Everyone will be either rewarded or rejected. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:49.279 Know that the Lord is patient. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:51.039 Know that the Lord is kind. 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:58.080 But know that if you have not truly embraced him, you're not in a neutral category. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:01.279 You're in the category of those who will be condemned. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:02.879 You're one of the goats. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:10.960 On the last day, every human, every human will be either rewarded or rejected. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:13.840 Two groups of people, the sheep and the goats. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.399 Next, two fruits. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:20.720 We see this spelled out in verse 35, down to verse 45. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:28.320 And when I say two fruits, again, remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7 by their fruits you will know them. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:37.840 So by the deeds of a person's life, you will see evidence of whether or not they truly know the Lord. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.759 It's not the good works that earn your way to heaven. 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:54.000 As Josh and Carol testified, it's only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but the evidence of our lives shows what's really inside, shows who we belong to, who possesses us. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:56.080 Verse 35. 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:04.080 I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:07.279 I was a stranger, you took me in, I was naked, and you clothed me. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.559 I was sick, you took care of me. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:10.399 I was in prison, you visited me. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:12.240 There's the positive fruit. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:17.200 And then verse 42 to 43 outlines the lack of genuine fruit. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:19.919 I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:22.399 I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:24.240 I was a stranger and you didn't take me in. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:29.679 I was naked and you didn't clothe me, sick and in prison, and you didn't take care of me. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.360 So again, it's please don't misunderstand. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:40.879 It's not that a life well lived builds up enough merit for you to be allowed into heaven. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:48.639 If you take a bunch of apples and put them on a pear tree, doesn't make it an apple tree. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:52.159 The fruit shows what the tree actually is. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:57.279 The root of our salvation is faith in the Good Shepherd. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:02.399 But the fruit of our life will indeed show the faith of our hearts. 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:06.080 And these good works here, they have their value. 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:12.399 This positive fruit, they have their value in relation to Jesus. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:14.879 I was hungry. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:17.360 I was a stranger, etc. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:19.840 Matches the whole call of Matthew. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:25.919 Matthew's been telling us throughout this whole gospel come to Christ, embrace King Jesus. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.879 As Jesus himself says, come unto me, all you that labor in heavy laden, I'll give you rest. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:35.440 And so this fruit is fruit done with reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:38.240 So it's not just generic good deeds. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:42.159 There's all kinds of people who do all kinds of good things, and we're thankful for that. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:44.159 We should be appreciative of that. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:51.039 But these are good deeds that have their ultimate value in relation to Jesus Himself. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:14:09.279 Remember on the road to Damascus, where Jesus, the resurrected Christ, confronts Saul and he says to Saul, Why are you persecuting me? 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.559 But Jesus was in heaven. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:16.559 Saul couldn't touch Jesus. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:21.679 But Saul was persecuting the body of Christ, Christ's people. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:28.000 And because he was doing that, Jesus could say, Well, you're persecuting me. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:39.039 Likewise, here, if you serve the people of God, because they are the body of Christ, you are serving Christ Himself. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:43.440 Take joy, take comfort in that. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:53.440 Most all of us, probably everyone as far as I know, has never had an opportunity to directly minister to the human body of Jesus Christ. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:56.799 He walked on earth, he's now at heaven at God's right hand. 00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:03.440 Some people in the gospels will come to a woman next week who is able to sacrificially serve Jesus while he walked. 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:09.360 Most of us, like these righteous ones, might think, well, wait a minute, I never actually did anything specifically to Jesus. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:09.919 Ah. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:16.720 But if you did it to his body, his bride, you did it to him and for him. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.120 There's something more here. 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:28.399 If you remember in Matthew 10, Jesus tells his disciples to go out and proclaim the good news. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:35.360 And then at the end of that chapter, he says, Whoever welcomes you welcomes me. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.720 Whoever gives you a cup of cold water. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:53.200 So he's sending out these gospel ambassadors, and he anticipates that people who welcome the gospel ambassadors are welcoming the message they bring, the good news of Jesus. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:56.080 So there's something also I think similar here. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:59.120 If you look back at Matthew 24, take a look in your Bibles. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.879 This is just one chapter back. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:12.320 In Matthew 24, 14, Jesus says the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:19.360 So just like in Matthew 10, there's going to be gospel ambassadors going out in all the world. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:20.799 And guess what? 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:27.440 They're going to experience persecution, suffering, imprisonment, right? 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.519 But not all will reject them. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:35.519 Some will hear and embrace their message. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:42.320 So to serve them is to evidence that you love the message they're bringing. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.600 Listen to how D.A. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:45.120 Carson puts it. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:17:00.080 The fate of the nations will be determined by how they respond to Jesus' followers, who are charged with spreading the gospel, and who do so in the face of hunger, thirst, illness, and imprisonment. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:19.200 Good deeds done to Jesus' followers, even the least of them, are not only works of compassion and morality, but they reflect where people stand in relation to the kingdom and to Jesus Himself. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:36.400 So I hope that helps you shed light on verse 40 when the king in our chapter, Matthew 25, when the king says, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:39.519 He's talking about his spiritual family. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:43.519 He's not talking here about humanity in general. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:48.319 He's already said in Matthew 12, Who is my mother, who are my brothers? 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:57.039 And then to his disciples, these are my mother and my brothers, whoever does the will of my father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:04.319 Now I know some of you are thinking, so you're saying we're just supposed to ignore unbelievers? 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:08.960 If someone's destitute and naked, we got to first find out, are you born again? 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:11.599 If you're not, tough luck, we'll see you later. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:18.640 No, there's plenty of Bible verses about doing good to all, letting our light so shine before men. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:22.480 But we're focused on what this passage is about. 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:24.480 Don't you love expositional preaching? 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.799 We've got to see what this passage is about. 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:32.960 In the New Testament, that language of brother and sister sometimes refers to a biological family or kin. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.759 It never in the New Testament refers to all of humanity. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:40.400 It normally refers to the followers of Jesus Christ, the family of God. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:50.960 So Jesus here is especially and specifically talking about how you minister to the people of God, those who are clothed with the message of the gospel. 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:54.640 And if you receive their message, of course you're going to want to receive them. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:58.640 We see this play out beautifully in the book of Acts. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:00.079 You don't have to turn there. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:06.799 But in Acts 2, Peter preaches a gospel sermon and they repent and believe and trust. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:10.640 And then everyone was filled with awe. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:14.559 And the believers were together and held all things in common. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:17.839 Acts chapter 4, we see something similar. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.200 Peter preaches again. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.319 People receive it. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.599 There's rejoicing. 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:29.359 And then it says in Acts 4 the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed any possession was his own. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:31.200 Instead, they held everything in common. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:39.119 For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, laid them at the apostles' feet. 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:43.279 This was then distributed to each person as any had need. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:49.920 See that beautiful demonstration of gospel receptivity and gospel hospitality. 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:53.599 And praise God, I see that in so many of you. 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:58.720 We take up a benevolence offering, especially for believers, and we're going to do that again today. 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:03.920 The benevolence fund is often well, well supplied. 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:11.839 I hear the heart that many of you have to pray for persecuted Christians, to those that are in prison around the world. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:18.720 And I'm sure if someone was put in jail here in Long Island for truly preaching the gospel, you'd want to go visit them and minister to them. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:23.920 That shows your heart, that shows your good fruit, that you know the Lord, that you're one of his sheep. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:30.319 You bring meals to visiting missionaries like the Kunis. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:32.720 You want to sit and spend time with them. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.480 Oh, it's so little. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:37.359 No, but in the Lord's eyes, it's so much. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:45.039 The Lord Jesus Christ receives these little tokens, these good deeds, as done to himself. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:52.240 And take encouragement also for those of you that will suffer for the sake of Christ. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:21:00.400 Those that may find yourselves without a job or hated by the world because of your testimony. 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:03.839 God will send his ravens to care for you. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:06.079 He will send his people to care for you. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:08.480 He'll protect you, he'll comfort you. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.559 There's much hope here. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:27.759 But if that's the fruit of faithful service done to the Lord, for others, there is no real faithful service done with a view to the Lord. 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:33.200 Oh, you might give to a charity because you're looking for a tax break. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:44.400 You might be decent to people at work because you don't want to seem like an egomaniac and you can't really get a raise or promotion at work if you're a jerk all the time. 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:52.640 You might even be kind to people in your family or in your neighborhood because you think, hmm, well, if I scratch their back, they have to scratch my back. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:59.279 Do you see how different that is from devoted service to the Good Shepherd? 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:05.680 Jesus is bringing all things in relation to himself. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:13.440 And how we relate to the people of God, especially, shows what we think of him. 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:23.680 In the last day, every human will either be rewarded or rejected. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:33.599 Two groups of people, two fruits, and then finally today, let's consider these two destinies. 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:40.720 In verse 32, Jesus says that when he comes, there will be a great separation. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:47.920 This is not a separation just to identify groups of people. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:54.000 This is a separation meant to divide people forever. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.559 Verse 34. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:07.279 Then the king will say 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. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.519 That's the destiny of the sheep. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:14.559 Then verse 41 shows the destiny of the goats. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:24.400 He will say to those on the left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:30.079 And the whole passage ends with those two destinies. 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.440 Verse 46. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:40.240 They, that is, the goats, will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:44.160 So first the destiny of the sheep. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:48.559 Verse 46 says it will be eternal life. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:53.920 Eternal life for the child of God is not simply existing forever. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:59.359 Sometimes we think about eternal life as you're kind of on a cloud floating around. 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:01.519 Maybe you get a harp if you did enough good things. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:08.240 And it's kind of like this sort of spiritual coma that's a little better than dying, but it seems kind of like not that great. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:11.200 Eternal life is so much more than that. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:15.680 Eternal life is about knowing and enjoying the living God forever. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:20.960 That's why the Westminster Catechism, its first question is what is the chief end of man? 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:24.799 In other words, what's the purpose and goal for humans? 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:30.400 And the answer is to worship God and enjoy him forever. 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:36.400 It's not simply about duration of existence, it's about the quality of life that you have. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:44.240 John 10, 10, I have come, Jesus says, that they might have life and have it in abundance. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:49.359 Acts 2.28, you've revealed the paths of life to me. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:53.279 You fill me with gladness in your presence. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:25:01.759 Or John 17 3, this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you sent, Jesus Christ. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:08.160 If knowing and enjoying God forever sounds somehow boring to you, maybe you don't have eternal life. 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.920 Maybe you're not one of his sheep. 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:18.640 For those who know him, that should thrill our hearts to bask in the glory of our Savior, to be brought to a place of perfection where we don't struggle with sin or pain. 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:23.680 But more importantly, we have this perfect relationship that we're able to enjoy. 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:26.880 That's the destination of all who belong to the Lord. 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:33.680 The goats have a different destiny. 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:38.559 In verse 46, it's described as eternal punishment. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:49.680 In verse 41, it speaks of them being placed under God's curse and consigned to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:59.839 Now, some of you may be visiting today, and maybe you think, you know what, this is what I don't like about Baptist churches. 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:03.839 You always have to get around to the demons and hellfire and brimstone. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:05.440 Why do you have to do that? 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:13.680 Well, I can't speak for all Baptist churches, but I can speak for our church and say, we don't tell the Lord what he should say. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:15.200 We listen to what he says. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.759 We don't edit Jesus. 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:26.160 How to call ourselves followers of Christ and then to think that we know better what he should say, why would we call ourselves followers of Christ? 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.519 That wouldn't be appropriate. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:39.920 And if you come week after week, and we'd invite you to come, we're thankful if you're a visitor here today, you'll see that we typically go through whole books of the Bible. 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:44.960 So we don't just go looking for all of the scariest passages. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:47.119 Yes, some Baptist churches do that. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:58.079 Uh, but we don't just try to avoid what might offend someone because we're gonna take whatever God says and let that be our guide. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.519 There's a lot of comfort in the Bible. 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:04.000 There's comfort here in this passage for the sheep. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:11.839 But the same Jesus, who is the shepherd of all comfort, he speaks about hell more than anyone else in the Bible. 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:18.480 It's an eternal punishment, verse 41 and verse 46. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:20.960 So some people say, Well, everyone gets into heaven. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.480 That's not what Jesus says. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:28.559 Some people think, well, the goats are gonna be probably just kind of destroyed and annihilated. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:31.039 Not what Jesus says here. 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:42.079 The contrast in verse 46, the contrast to eternal life is eternal punishment. 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:49.359 No one thinks that the sheep are gonna be able to enjoy the new creation for five seconds and they get destroyed forever. 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:55.920 And many of us, when we think about eternal punishment, it unsettles us. 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:16.400 Why do we presume that we deserve eternal reward, but that we obviously would never deserve eternal punishment? 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:22.160 Why would the one unsettle us and the other it's like, yeah, definitely, that should be me. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:24.319 Doesn't that say something about who we are? 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:30.799 That doesn't it suggest that perhaps at times we put ourselves at the center of the universe instead of God? 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:40.240 Um this reward, this eternal life that comes to the sheep, it's because of their identity with the shepherd. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:43.359 They inherit the kingdom. 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:53.839 It's not about simply living in a shiny palace, it's about being a part of the family of God, the good shepherd's family. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:29:02.559 And because of his gracious gift, because they belong to the eternal son, they are able to enjoy him forever. 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:13.920 For those that experience this punishment, consider not just what you've done, but who you've done it to. 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:21.680 Again, the words of Jesus here when I was hungry, you didn't feed me. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:24.559 When I was thirsty, you didn't give me something to drink. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:38.880 So if you read Jesus as saying there was someone who happened to be thirsty, you didn't give them water, so you're gonna be thirsty forever, and you think, well, that that doesn't seem eye for an eye, it doesn't seem proportional. 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:50.640 It's not about that isolated deed, it's that you've ignored and rejected him, and he's the living and true and eternal God. 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:58.160 So when you sin against him, that's the infinite weight of your actions. 00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:04.400 There's where the eternity comes in because of who it is with whom we have to do, the Lord Himself. 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:14.319 In conclusion today, I want to just offer one final word to some different groups of people. 00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:22.160 Some of you may be here, you may know, I'm not a sheep. 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:24.000 I I I'm a goat. 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.000 Is there no hope for me? 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.519 There is hope for you. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.759 Again, consider you're here, aren't you? 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:30.880 Aren't you hearing the word? 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:33.039 Do you do you hear the voice of Christ? 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:34.000 Would you listen? 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:36.559 Would you embrace him? 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:43.759 Others who may be here thinking, Oh yeah, I'm definitely a sheep. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.599 And you're actually not. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:53.839 Jesus does say, Many will come in the last day and say, Lord, Lord, and I'll say, Depart from me, you who work iniquity. 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.920 Consider your own life. 00:30:56.160 --> 00:31:00.079 Don't just rely only on your own private judgment. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:04.799 Grab someone else, pray with them, ask them to consider your faith in your life. 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:19.599 And then a third group, and these last two groups, especially today, can take comfort, but then there are people, and I it's hard when you're preaching to so many different kinds of people, and we ourselves have experienced probably all of these at different times in our life. 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:23.920 Those that you're a sheep, but you just struggle with doubt. 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:28.160 You're constantly wondering, well, maybe I'm not a sheep, maybe I am a goat. 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:30.720 The Savior is a tender shepherd. 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:32.319 That's what he says here. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:35.119 He receives weak and doubting souls. 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:42.960 It's not your uncertainty or certainty that's going to ultimately see you through. 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.960 It's the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:46.880 So keep hoping in him. 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:56.079 Take comfort that for those who are clinging to Christ alone, even if we don't always feel the assurance that we should, God is there, God is near. 00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:07.119 And then lastly, for those that know that you're a sheep, let the reality of eternity sober you as you go out from here and interact with others. 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:09.839 But look forward with hope. 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:16.799 The sufferings of this present life are not worth comparing the glory that will be revealed in us. 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:25.519 To think of the relationships that might be broken because we're a Christian. 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:29.839 It's not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:44.160 To think of the of the lack of success we may have on the planes of human existence and our jobs or our, yes, but we're gonna inherit the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world. 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:46.559 We're part of God's eternal purpose. 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:49.359 It's a grand thing to know that. 00:32:52.160 --> 00:33:00.640 On the last day, every human will be either rewarded or rejected. 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:02.559 May we seek God. 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:04.000 Let's pray. 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:14.720 Lord, we want desperately to know divine words and divine comfort. 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:19.359 Thank you, Spirit of God, that you do all things well. 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:30.400 And we dare not trust ourselves or look ultimately to ourselves, but seek you while you might be found and call on you while you are near. 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:32.799 Thank you for being near to us. 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:40.240 Thank you for the hope we have of eternal life, the hope we have of resurrection and glory and joy. 00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:56.559 Help us, Lord, not to live lives of complaining and bitterness towards others, but to live as your people thoughtfully, with boldness proclaiming the good news, with a heart of longing to minister to all the saints and their needs. 00:33:56.799 --> 00:34:00.000 And ultimately, it's our desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:04.000 We don't work as pleasers of men, but as serving the Lord together. 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:14.639 So, Lord, let us serve one another during this time of reflection and communion, and may we commune especially with the Savior as we anticipate his coming, as we anticipate the confidence that we can have. 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:24.320 We pray today, particularly for those struggling souls, that you have promised you won't break a bruised reed or quench a smoking flax till you send judgment to victory. 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:33.679 Oh, Lord, bring the sweetness of assurance, bring the sweetness of fellowship and peace to those that are in a turmoil of soul today. 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.920 Do that for your glory's sake, we pray. 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:37.440 In Jesus' name, amen.