081 Stories of the Kingdom: If Only I'd Known

There are certain regrets in life that fall under the category of what might be called, “If only I’d known…”  But the ultimate regret story is the one Jesus told in Matthew 25.

Nearly all of Jesus’ parables come out of ordinary life situations and this one is no different. The imagery of a mixed flock of sheep and goats would have been familiar to His audience as would the need to separate the flock at the end of the day. According to this parable, the last judgment will have such a moment of separation.

The Bible states that the day will come when every person who has ever walked this earth will stand before the Lord. And this text makes it clear that there will be a dramatic separation.  Some will be invited in (vs.34); others will be told, “Depart from me…into eternal fire” (vs. 41).

What’s striking in this parable is the basis for that judgment: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (vs. 35-40)

According to Jesus, it will be the compassion either shown or not shown to the poor and needy that will be a determinative factor in entering the Kingdom. 

Now, at first blush, it appears that Jesus is suggesting eternal life is determined by what you DO.  But that is at odds with what the Bible says elsewhere. Salvation is by grace through faith…alone. 

However, while we are saved by faith alone, the faith that saves is never alone.

When there has been a true transformation in your heart and soul there is to be an accompanying transformation of your hands and feet. Genuine faith is necessarily connected to works – not works in order to but works because of.  

That’s the point Jesus is making here. At the judgment, it will be clear that some people never demonstrated deeds that validated their words.

The second thing that makes this parable so striking is the sort of works the Master is looking for.  Of all the examples Jesus could have used to show who really had saving faith and who didn’t, the example He picked was that of showing compassion to those in need.  

As he’s separating out the “goats” Jesus doesn’t say to them, “You were brutal and cruel.”   In fact, He doesn’t say, “You did bad things,” at all. 

He just says, “You did nothing. You saw the need and you looked away. You decided you had more important things to do, but you were wrong.  For whatever you did not do for one of the least of these my brothers you did not do for me.”

So, how do we build more compassionate hearts?  You must regularly get out of your comfort zone.

There’s a gravitational pull toward comfort and security. That desire impacts where we live, where we shop, where we play, and the schools we send our kids to.  It can even impact where you go to church.

As long as I keep myself in that sort of cocoon, the people who live in other conditions - people who are different from me - will never be recipients of the compassion that the Lord expects from His followers.

What typically transforms your heart toward compassion is a real-life experience that grips your heart and ignites your passion.  

And that’s going to require getting out of your house.

That’s when your eyes begin to be opened.  That’s when you see that there are opportunities for compassion all around you.

Text: Matthew 25:31-46

Originally recorded August 30, 2009, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.