31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
(Matthew 25:31-46 ESV)
Picture this. Jesus was standing on the Mount of Olives with his disciples. This is where you have the amazing view over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus was giving the disciples a visual illustration of what’s going to happen at his return.
On the left of the city (to the south of the old city), there is the Hinnom Valley, also known as Gehinnom or Gehenna. On the right side of the city (to the north) is the Sheep Gate.
Right in front of the old city, there is the Valley of Jehoshaphat, also known as the Kidron Valley. This valley is where Jesus will war against the antichrist and his armies that have encamped against Jerusalem.
Those who took care of the “least of these” brothers of Jesus will be like the sheep, and are led to the right, where the Sheep Gate entry into the city is.
Those who did not take care of “the least of these” are the goats, and they will go to the Hinnom Valley, Gehenna, which in Hebrew thinking is the place of divine judgment (compare it with hell).
So who are these sheep who took care of the least of Jesus’ brothers? Could they be Jesus’ brothers according to the flesh, the Jewish people, who are suffering under antisemitism?
Currently there is a huge surge in antisemitism. No matter where you stand politically or theologically, I believe we are all called to help protect and support the Jewish people, both in Israel and around the world, against the demonic attacks that are launched against them in this current time. The devil hates Jesus. He hates Christians. But he also hates Jesus’ people according to the flesh, Israel, because there are still promises God will fulfill towards them.
Will you be a sheep or a goat?
Picture of the Hinnom Valley courtesy of Visual Bible Alive.
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