Topic: 3 groups exist in Mt c.25:32-46: sheep,goats,my brethren (Read 228 times)

Alfred Persson · « **on:** January 21, 2012, 08:22:29 AM »

Some believe Matthew 25:32f proves there are only two groups of mankind, the sheep (righteous) and the goats (unrighteous) But it is beyond reasonable doubt three classes of men can be found in that context.

For example, the Church which is saved by grace, not works, through faith BUT these "sheep" are saved by works done in ignorance of Jesus, hence its impossible they symbolize faith in Him. Moreover, at the time of this judgment the church is already with Christ reigning as Kings and Priests (Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Mat 24:29-31; Rev 14:14-16) "and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (Joh 5:24 NKJ)

32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
33 "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
…
40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' (Mat 25:32-40 NKJ)

"My brethren" cannot be "the sheep" for that's redundant absurdity. "My brethren" cannot be "elect Israel" versus "non-elect Israel" because this is a judgment of all nations (25:32), not Israel only. "My brethren" cannot be the Israel nation versus the Gentiles nations because Christ's immediate audience is Israelis being exhorted to consider their latter end. "My brethren cannot be "all mankind in need" and the church the sheep because it's not possible they wouldn't be depicted as ignorant of Christ and judged for their works.

That leaves the identification of "My brethren" as the church "conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Ro 8:29 NKJ) Compare "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me…. 42 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward." (Mat 10:40, 42 NKJ); 41 "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Mar 9:41 NKJ)

So the three classes are: "My brethren" = the righteous, "the goats" = the unrighteous and "the sheep" the intermediate or "middling people."[/b]

Three groups also appear in John 5:24 "he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."Therefore the church is not in John 5:28-29 when those in Hades hear Christ's voice and those who did good experience a resurrection into life:

28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29 "and come forth-- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (Jo 5:24-29 NKJ)

These three groups again appear in Revelation chapter 20. In verses 4-6 the martyrs join the rapture/resurrection of the church (1 Th 4:14-18; 1 Co 15:51-58; Mt 24:29-31; Re 14:14-16) leaving "the rest of the dead" (20:5) to rise up a thousand years. Their juxtaposition with the martyrs implies they are the "intermediate group" and not the wicked who also rise up in Rev 20:11-15.

In Re 20:12 the book of life is opened confirming some of these rise into life (Jo 5:28-29). These are judged according to their works and if love of light is manifest (cf Mat 25:35-40; cp John 3:19-21) then they are saved by grace their names are written in the book of life. That names can be written into (Mal 3:16) or blotted out of the book of life (Rev 3:5) proves it contains more than the names of the elect unconditionally chosen before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8).
A parallel to this can be found in the Jewish Talmud:

"Three books are opened [in heaven] on New Year, one for the thoroughly wicked, one for the thoroughly righteous, and one for the intermediate. The thoroughly righteous are forthwith inscribed definitively in the book of life; the thoroughly wicked are forthwith inscribed definitively in the book of death; the doom of the intermediate is suspended from New Year till the Day of Atonement; if they deserve well, they are inscribed in the book of life; if they do not deserve well, they are inscribed in the book of death….It has been taught: Beth Shammai say, There will be three groups at the Day of Judgment - one of thoroughly righteous, one of thoroughly wicked, and one of intermediate.-Talmud, Mas. Rosh HaShanna 16b, -Judaic Classics Library by David Kantrowitz, 2001, Institute for Computers in Jewish Life, Judaica Press, Inc.

Paul's instructor (Ac 22:3) Gamaliel presided over the school or "Beth" Shammai around 30 A.D. and some elements of this teaching were carried forward into the New Testament:

52 Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." (Mat 13:52 NKJ)

Verses suggesting salvation hasn't yet been achieved imply the existence of "the intermediate" (2 Pet 2:1; Gal 5:4; Heb 10:26; 1 Cor 5:5), their names might yet be blotted out of the book (Ps 69:28; Rev 3:5) and this permits apostolic humility the hypothetical: "lest… I myself should be a castaway" (1Co 9:27 KJV).

The resurrection in Revelation 20:11-15 (cf Joh 5:28-29) is "of the dead" (vs. 12) therefore the church alive with Christ is not in this context (John 5:24); their judgment (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10;1 Pet 4:17) concerns rewards, not salvation (1 Cor 3:15; 2 Pet 1:10-11). Therefore the opened book of life implies the existence of the intermediate group.

Therefore the existence of three classes of mankind, not only two, is beyond reasonable doubt. This impacts many areas of soteriology, for example the supposed logical corollary between unconditional election to life of some leaving the rest in positive or negative reprobation, becomes a false dilemma as some of them can be saved according to their works.

Alfred Persson · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2012, 12:07:55 PM »

There is a judgment according to works in Mat 25:33-40, where works that prove one has unknowingly received Christ also saves.

31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
33 "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand,`Come, you blessed of 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 took Me in;
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 `When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
39 `Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 "And the King will answer and say to them,`Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
(Mat 25:31-40 NKJ)

Clearly this is a third group judged according to works…according to their own conscience:

14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. (Rom 2:14-16 NKJ)

2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1Jo 2:2 NKJ)

So its not "us only" Christ died for, His sacrifice allows God hear the cases of those who died without Christ, but had proved by their works they didn't hate the light. They just didn't know Christ before they died. These acted well according to their conscience which now excuses them for sins done in ignorance of God's law.

Same here, Judgment Day happens a thousand years after the church has been reigning with Christ as Kings and priests in His kingdom, therefore "the dead" who rise up from Hades are NOT the church:

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. (Rev 20:11-13 NKJ)

Yet the book of life is opened indicating some of these would be written into it, after passing the judgment according to their works.

Had these believed in Christ while alive they would have been raptured or resurrected a 1000 years earlier at Christ's second coming (Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Mat 24:29-31; Rev 14:14-16) their salvation wouldn't be in question (John 5:24) now.

But they didn't, they died not believing in Christ therefore they are "the dead" in Hades and Death. AND these are judged just BEFORE they are raised to determine what sort of resurrection body they will be raised in, glorious or abhorrent. (Daniel 12:2-3; Isaiah 66:25; John 5:28-29)

They are the third group, the "intermediate" being neither the elect or the wicked, they are the "average sinners" who, if they prove they would have received Christ into their homes if only they knew He was in need (Mat 25:33-40), are saved by God's grace, because THE propitiation of Christ isn't for "us only", its also for them.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1Jo 2:2 NKJ)

28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29 "and come forth-- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
(Joh 5:28-29 NKJ)[/size]

Author Topic: 3 groups exist in Mt c.25:32-46: sheep,goats,my brethren (Read 228 times)

Alfred Persson

3 groups exist in Mt c.25:32-46: sheep,goats,my brethren

Alfred Persson

Re: 3 groups exist in Mt c.25:32-46: sheep,goats,my brethren