The king has come, the nations have been gathered and separated, and now we await the judgment of the one on the throne. The sheep are on Jesus’ right, the place of honour, and here he addresses them. These people have been blessed by God and are told to take their inheritance, the kingdom that has been prepared for them. Since the stars started shining, the world began turning, and cells became living, eternal life had been prepared for these blessed people. It had all been God’s plan for salvation from the very beginning of creation and it wasn’t a plan B. These people have been blessed already and not because of any merit of their own but by God’s own graciousness. However, these people have also done things. Their lives have displayed evidence of them being blessed with entrance into the kingdom.

The whole of the Bible testifies to the fact that salvation is by grace alone and not by good works but some people have suggested that Jesus is preaching about a works-based righteousness here. This simply cannot be the case here and it isn’t. What this passage shows us is that lives lived in congruence with one’s blessings is critically important. To be called a child of God warrants behaviour like a child of God. The claim to follow the one who cared for the hungry, the thirsty, the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned must be proven by the imitation of this person’s actions. If we claim to be in a relationship with Jesus, to have him as King over our lives, we must back that claim up with evidence. For a life that is lived with good works isn’t a life that warrants or deserves entrance to the Kingdom but is a life which shows evidence of a person’s submission to the gracious and loving King. MC

Questions

How and why are the sheep able to enter the Kingdom? What is the role of their good works?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your blessings in calling us your people, in giving us assurance of eternal life through Jesus, and your foreknowledge of us. Transform our lives to be living testaments of our calling to be with your for eternity, in Jesus' Name, Amen.