WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday February 15, 2015
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readers worldwide
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SERVING
THE LEAST
(Reacting
positively to human need)
(Matthew
25:31-46)
In Matthew 25, as JESUS concluded
HIS, now famous, “Mount Olive Discourse” from the slopes of Mount Olive, HE
gives us the answers that we need in order to pass “the test of life” that GOD
has set before us. Here the TEACHER, JESUS, gives us the criterion by which HE
will grade all humankind upon HIS second coming, when “the school of life” as
we know it here on earth, is over.
Here JESUS is speaking
of a time immediately following the final tribulations of man that were foretold
by the prophet Daniel during the Babylonian conquest (Daniel 7:25, 9:27, 12:7),
and then later, by the Apostle John through his visions from CHRIST JESUS on
the island of Patmos (Revelations 11:2-3, 12:14, 13:5). This final tribulation
period is to last for seven years just prior to what we’ve come to know as “The
Rapture”.
JESUS tells us that HE
will be accompanied by a host of angels, and will be seated on HIS glorious
throne because HE plans to stay for a while, 1000 years to be exact. It is from
there, that HE will exercise HIS GOD-given authority to judge all mankind, and
HE will do so, strictly according to “how we reacted to human need” in our
lifetime. If we reacted positively, we passed the test of life, but if we
reacted negatively, and did not show love and concern for our fellowman, we’ve
failed the test, and thereby, cannot pass into eternal life in Heaven, nor, for
that matter, not even into the earthly “Millennial Kingdom” which CHRIST will
set up immediately following HIS final judgment.
During this millennial
period (1000 years), CHRIST JESUS will reign over a restored earth where there
will be no satanic influence, because satan will be locked away for the
duration. The prophet Ezekiel tells us that GOD will, quite literally, take
away the remaining sin nature, or desire to sin, from those who are still
seeking GOD in the end (Ezekiel 36:25-33). Therefore, there will be no sin in
the Millennial Kingdom, and thereby, there can be no sickness and death.
Everyone who enters into the Millennial Kingdom on day one, will still be a
member at the end of the thousand year period, because where there is no sin,
there can be no sickness and death.
In this passage JESUS
makes it pretty clear that anyone who hasn’t accepted HIS salvation offer by
the time HE returns (the goats) will be sent away into eternal damnation and
punishment. Only those individuals who have already accepted CHRIST before HE
returns (the sheep) will be allowed to enter into, and share in HIS Millennial
Kingdom. One must have already taken on the attitude of treating everyone as if
they were dealing with CHRIST HIMSELF, personally. They must actually practice
this behavior in this life, right now, here on earth.
What stands out in this
passage is that no sin, in particular, is mentioned, as a part of the criterion
that JESUS will use for judging us. The reason being is that, all the sins of
man, past, present, and future, have already been covered by the blood of JESUS
when HE died on the cross at Golgotha. JESUS is telling us that we will be
judged according to our reaction to human need, and that salvation is granted
only to those who believe that HE died and took the mandatory death penalty for
sins off the table. Since that time all those who accept HIM as their LORD and
SAVIOR will be saved from eternal damnation.
However, our faith in
GOD has to rise to the level of “Saving Faith” before we can be motivated to
act out that faith in a way that is pleasing to GOD. Real saving faith
manifests itself through GODly deeds and behavior that actually show GOD our
love for HIM and our fellowman. And when GOD looks into our hearts and sees
HIMSELF, HE then sends us to JESUS. That is what JESUS means when HE says, “No
man can come to ME unless the FATHER draws them” (John 6:43-45). As Christians,
we must be able to show the world, through our behavior, that Christianity
really does produce the best men and women. And then, because of the desire we have
shown to do the Word of GOD, JESUS, in the last day, will raise us up from the
dead.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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