Searcher:
I recently completed an analysis of Matthew 24 and 25 and ended with a very much different understanding of the parable of the sheep and goats than I previously had (even in my post just above).
Starting in 24:36, Jesus broaches the subject of his parousia. He points out "that day and hour" is not known by any but the Father. On that account, he says in verse 42, "Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming."
From 24:43 thru 25:30 Jesus then goes on to unpack what 'keeping on the watch' would mean for "you," his disciples:
24:43, 44
They are compared to a householder needing to be ready for a thief in the night.
24:45-51
They are compared to a servant in a master's household, expected to be faithful at their assignment. Note also that they are told that if they mis-treat their fellow slaves, there would be major repercussions at the time of the master's return.
Another point to note is that as long as they are part of the master's household, they are 'in.' "Darkness" and 'gnashing of teeth' are only to be found "outside," where they will only find themselves if they misbehave or are "evil."
25:1-13
This compares the disciples to 10 virgins, already invited to the wedding banquet. Five get shut out because they fail to make long term preparation. Apparently signifying that last minute preparation won't do for a successful disciple. Thus the repeated warning to "keep on the watch" in verse 13. But note that they are already expecting to be a part of the wedding party with the bridegroom. It is only when they fail that they are shut out. Their knocking and pleas (of the 5 foolish ones) show that they were already expecting to be a part of the banquet.
25:14-30
This compares the disciples to 3 slaves within a wealthy master's household, each given significant funds and expected to carry on business in the master's behalf till he arrives back.
Again, as in the 'faithful slave' parable, the slaves are already "in" with the master as long as they are faithful. Similar also with the 10 virgins. As long as they do as expected they are "in," so to speak. only failing in their assignments causes them to be put out, or in the case of the virgins, locked out.
Now compare the circumstances revolving around the disciples (as laid out by Jesus above) with what is said of the sheep and goats.
25:31
The "Son of man arrives in his glory" appears to match the arrival of the master in the various parables previously spoken of above.
25:32
The king then 'gathers all the nations' and seperates them into two groups.
Noteworthy here is "all the nations." So far in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24 & 25) "all the nations" are set in contrast to the disciple community:
24:9 'You will be hated by "all the nations."
24:14 The good news will be preached to "all the nations" for a witness.
The sheep and goats are divided off at the kings arrival. But for the disciples in the parables above, they are already in, unless needing to be put out. For the disciples, there was always a clear demarcation between being in the household and "the darkness outside." Do you see that contrast?
25:34-46
Here is the really fascinating part. Both sheep and goats profess to not knowing that when they did good deeds to "the least of these my brothers" (a phrase which seems to be all inclusive of the disciple community - from greatest to least, as it were), that they were doing these things (or failing to) to Jesus. Both sheep and goats act as if there is no ongoing relationship between themselves and Jesus. The wording does, in fact, seem to differentiate Jesus' disciples from these sheep and goats from among "all the nations."
For the disciples in the previous parables, especially in the F&DS parable, how they treat their fellow slaves is clearly linked with how their master will treat them. (Compare John 13:34, 35, where being a disciple is also clearly linked with love for fellow disciples.) How could those same disciples, if they are also the "sheep" of the parable, profess to not seeing any relationship between their treatment of Jesus' disciples and how he would react to them?
The idea that there could be such last minute survivors (as it were) of the arrival of the king, might be hinted at in earlier parts of Matthew:
10:40-42
. . ."He that receives YOU receives me also, and he that receives me receives him also that sent me forth. 41 He that receives a prophet because he is a prophet will get a prophet's reward, and he that receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will get a righteous man's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, I tell YOU truly, he will by no means lose his reward."
20:1-16
This is the parable of he 11th hour workers which comes right on the heals of Peter asking what reward would be received for following Jesus. Jesus responds with rewards in this time and also "everlasting life." (Mt 19:27-29) Then Jesus includes a "But," followed by the 11th hour parable which highlights the idea that "many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Compare also Jesus' kind words to the robber who spoke well of/to him in Luke 23:39-43. I mention it as an example of the kind of disposition Jesus has.)
Outside of Matthew:
Zechariah 14:16
Refers to, "everyone who is left remaining out of all the nations that are coming against Jerusalem."
It would be difficult to see why Jehovah would describe those already considered his people as being among "all the nations that are coming against Jerusalem." (Compare the whole of Zech 14, where God's people are "you," and the enemy nations are "they" and "them.")
Exodus
Might possibly be prefigured by the "vast mixed company" that goes with the Jews leaving Egypt.
I have some other thoughts about this, but I better cut a long post short here. I wasn't expecting to arrive at this conclusion about the sheep and goats. But it is hard for me to reconcile them in any other way at the moment, based on the entire context of Matthew 24 & 25.
Any thoughts (for or against) would be appreciated.
Take Care
