What To Do When Your Salvation Is On the Line

A Commentary on Matthew 21-25

Jesus' teaching, though in parabolic form, is actually quite scandalous. Calling the
nations to judgment is something long looked forward to by the Israelites. Their
attitude, both throughout the Old Testament and into the New, was to look down on
the nations and to look up to...themselves. After all, they were the recipients of God's
grace; they were the ones called to be God's people through their father, Abraham;
they were the ones led out of Egypt by Moses into the promised land; they were the
ones given the law; they were the ones given God's glory in the Davidic lineage; they
were the ones who merely needed to wait out the nations until God sent his promised
messiah and lord in David's line to free the people and rescue them for God.

Yet, when the nations are gathered by Jesus (the Son of Man; the King) they are
separated by him. They are not separated by nationality or ethnicity. Rather, they are
separated as though they were animals—they were separated into two types, two
camps. They were separated based on deeds done or not done; not by perceived
value; and not by categories decided by nationality, religion ("law"), or lineage
("children of Abraham").

These separation criteria find fulfillment in judgment. The reason for separation is
clear—not everyone did the will of their Father, which was surprising to some who
looked to improve their religious lot in life. They were separated to be judged. Those
who loved Jesus received eternal life. Those who didn't love Jesus received eternal
punishment. It's that simple.

How did they love Jesus? By serving the least of his brothers and sisters; because in
doing so, they served him. How did they dis-love Jesus? By not serving the least of his
brothers and sisters; because when they overlooked them because of their own self-
importance, they overlooked Jesus.

But how did Jesus arrive at this teaching? It has been building. Jesus didn't get here in
his teaching without precedent.

His teaching began to take on a different, sharper tone once he reached Jerusalem
and knew that his life was coming to an end. As he operated within Jerusalem and
looked toward the end, he taught that the kingdom of God is about simple, childlike
faith and fruit-bearing actions and activities (Matt. 21:15-22). He talked about the
great reversal in God's kingdom which is centered around him, where many who think
they should be involved completely miss their opportunity, while many who would
expect to be left out are in fact both invited and welcomed in (Matt. 22:1-14).

To those who claimed to be concerned about the law (even while they tried to trap
Jesus in his teaching), Jesus said that love of God and neighbor fulfill all the

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremy@jeremyhoover.com

 What To Do When Your Salvation Is On the Line
A Commentary on Matthew 21-25

commands of the law (Matt. 23:34-40). He condemned hypocrisy by calling out the
Pharisees and teachers of the law for leading others astray with their teaching that is
focused on obedience of the law for its own sake rather than to please God (Matt.
23).

Finally, he brought it full circle—Jesus taught about his own coming (Matt. 24). The
key is to be prepared and diligent, doing good to those you influence (Matt. 24:42-
51). Jesus then amplifies this teaching in a series of parables (Matt. 25). First, five
virgins who were to be part of the wedding banquet missed out because of failure to
pay attention and plan for contingencies (Matt. 25:1-13). Second, one servant who
was given money by his master to do good with missed out because he became fearful
of his master and failed to use the resources given him to increase his master's reach
and kingdom (Matt. 25:14-30). Third, the cursed (who were very surprised to find
themselves considered as such) found themselves condemned for failure to search out
and serve the least of the King's brothers and sisters, whom he shared solidarity with
(Matt. 25:31-46).

We are to live in God's kingdom, being watchful, attentive, diligent in good, using the
resources God has given us to serve and love the least among us. By doing so, we
serve and love our master, Jesus.

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremy@jeremyhoover.com