Man Under Judgment

MEMORY SELECTION: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” —Matthew 25:40

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25

THIS passage is taken from the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. The parable begins with verse 31 and ends with verse 46. In the opening verse we catch a glimpse of the time when, in the future millennial kingdom, our Lord Jesus, together with his church, shall sit on the antitypical throne of David.

During that time of judgment for the whole world of mankind, the faithful ones of the Gospel Age will be associated with Jesus for the very purpose of dispensing life-giving blessings to all the obedient. At that time all the family of man will be on trial to see whether or not they are worthy of those blessings. Those who indicate a sheeplike disposition will occupy a position of favor on the Lord’s right hand, while others, showing a goatlike disposition, are represented as being on the left.

It will take a long time to accomplish this great work for the recovery of the human race from the ravages of sin and death; in fact, it will require the entire thousand years of the millennial kingdom. Those who make progress in their walk up the highway of holiness and who develop the spirit of obedience will become members of the Great Shepherd’s flock, on the right hand of favor, thus indicating their worthiness of attaining everlasting life. “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”—vs. 34

The Scriptures tell us that there will be some who will not make satisfactory progress during those times of restitution, and, although every provision will have been made to assist them back to the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they will show their unworthiness of receiving further of the blessings available to them under the provisions of the kingdom. They are pictured as being on the left hand, or position of disfavor. “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels.”—vs. 41

We note in the parable that both classes, the sheep and the goats, were surprised at the judgment meted out to them. The sheep were told that the King was hungry, and they gave him food to eat; thirsty, and they gave him water to drink; a stranger, and they took him in; naked, and they clothed him; sick, and they visited him; in prison, and they came unto him. It was then that the righteous asked him, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?”

Then, on the other hand, the same statements were made to the unfaithful class represented by the goats. For to them the King said, “I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.” (vss. 42,43) There was the same element of surprise in their question when they said, “Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?” (vs. 44) And the Lord’s answer to them was, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.”—vs. 45

During the times of restitution the sheep class will assist one another up the highway of holiness, whereas those who have not developed an appreciation of the privileges of the millennial kingdom will have no such attitude of heart toward their fellow creatures. The reference in the parable to the meat and drink may picture understanding that will be given out to those in need of it. At that time the sheep will go out of their way to help the strangers and help them to seek to cover their nakedness, or propensity toward sin, by willing obedience to the laws of the kingdom. And what a glorious time it will be when the hungry and sick and those who are returning from the great prison house of death are given every opportunity of attaining everlasting life! The sheep of that future age will have the privilege of sharing in that wonderful work of the kingdom.—Rev. 22:17

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