Few More Parables

By Matt

Chapter 25 is rounded out by two more parables and then basically you enter Christ's Passion. What's remarkable is how much Christ says in the first 25 chapters of Matthew and then how little he says in the next 3. Anyways, the other two parables we have in 25 both deal with condemnation again and, yep, the pattern holds true.

The first one is that one about the rich man who gives his money to his servants to hang on to while he's away for a while. The first two double the investment while the third servant buries it in the ground and the money does nothing. Again, I have to think that Jesus is aiming the hating at folks who should know better but then don't do anything about it: the religious leaders pretty much.

The second one gets interesting. It's the parable of the sheep and goats and the sheep are the ones who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, give a home to the homeless, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and the imprisoned. The goats do the opposite. The sheep get praised and are brought into Christ's kingdom while the goats are cast down to hell. This is one of the more explicit passages about elevation and condemnation and, according to this passage, it comes down to doing good works which is interesting (don't tell the Lutherans).

Well, three more Gospels to go but Matthew was pretty clear about who the quick and the dead are.