Jesus' words in Matthew 25 are very well-known. They are the words about the separation of the sheep and the goats. When does the separation take place? "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him" (Matt. 25:31; cf. 24:29-31). With these words Jesus indicates his return. At the second coming he will put the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left hand.

Why the division between right and left? "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat". Or just the opposite, "for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat". With the remarkable revelation, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did not for me."

There are simple things for separating sheep from goats, for dividing between the righ­teous and unrighteous: eating and drinking, housing and clothing, care for the sick and prisoners (and the dead), basic mercy.

Indeed, many of Jesus' expressions in Matthew 25:31-46 are well-known and because of this maybe have become over familiar. However, for the people referred to in the bible text itself (sheep and goats), the words of Jesus are very startling, both in the positive and negative sense. The (pleasant/unpleasant) startling effect can be felt in the story.

Startling⤒🔗

Jesus says to the people on his right hand: "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world" (25:34). Jesus adds why they inherit that kingdom from God:

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. (25:35-36)

Naturally there arises the astonished response:

Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? (25:37-39)

Jesus answers, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (25:40)

Did you think that Jesus was so surpris­ingly close by? You can give Him shelter!

Somewhat later Jesus says to the people on his left hand: "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (25:41). Why this punishment? "For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me" (25:42-43). Once again the astonished request for information: "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?" (25:44). Jesus reply: "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me" (25:45). Did you think that Jesus was so crushingly close to you? You can refuse to give Him shelter!

Conspicuous Structure←⤒🔗

The words of Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46 have a structure that demands and holds the attention of the listener (and reader). Breathlessly you look at the pictures evoked by Jesus' words about the final judgment. In them you find symmetry and power.

• The verses 31-33 form the introduction and describe the situation. The Son of Man sits on his throne, surrounded by angels, and all people stand before Him. Below them takes place the division of the sheep and the goats.
   
• The middle section is formed by the verses 34-45 in which the reason for the separation between the right hand (the sheep) and the left (the goats) is explained.
   
• The middle section has two parallel parts. The first is about those set at Jesus' right hand (34­40) and the second is about those set at Jesus' left hand (41-45).
   
• Both parts of the middle section break down again into three subsections: the words of the King to the people on the right and left hand (34-36, 41-43), their reaction (37-39), 44) and the answer of the King (40, 45).
   
• Verse 46 forms the conclusion where the divi­sion between people is radically and clearly expressing eternal death or eternal life.

This conspicuous structure has various effects.

Exactly what the sheep and the goats have or have not done is told four times via the parallel sections (35-36, 37-39, 42-23, 44). Further­more the verses 40 and 45 are accentuated by the overall structure (the answer of the King), in which the "doing" is emphasized (4x). That "doing" appears to be diaconate. In their reaction to the words of the King the unrighteous say: When did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or needy or sick or in prison and did not serve (diaconate) You? Diaconate is doing, doing the works of mercy.

Works of Mercy←⤒🔗

On the basis of Jesus' words in Matthew 25:31­46 the church has for centuries spoken about the so-called "works of mercy". In this Bible passage six are named.

1. Giving food to those who are hungry.
    
2. Giving drink to those who are thirsty.
    
3. Giving shelter to strangers.
    
4. Giving clothes to those without clothes.
    
5. Visiting the sick.
    
6. Caring for prisoners.

After the fourth century there was also added (7) the burial of the dead to works of mercy. A. Noordegraaf writes about this "As such this idea is much older. Not being buried was counted in the Old Testament as a sign of an insult and a curse (2 Chron. 9:37; Ps. 79:3). The positive side of this is that burial of the dead is a good work, as is indicated in the apocryphal book of Tobit." This situation led some to speak of seven and oth­ers of six works of mercy.

Mercy by Whom?←⤒🔗

If you skim over these words of Jesus then you might also superficially conclude that the sheep will be the believers and the goats the unbelievers: People who do /or do not believe in Jesus, those who do/do not have a relationship with Him. If you read and think about it once more you will probably see the subtle nuance. The passage is indeed about believers and unbelievers but in terms of believing and unbelieving behaviour. In other words: It is about whether your relationship with Jesus translates into the basic works of mercy of Jesus or not.

Matthew 24 and 25 are about the future of God's people and about the coming (back) of God's Son (Jesus). There Jesus expresses an urgent call for watchfulness to his covenant people (24:42). This call is worked out and always addressed to the followers of Jesus. A follower of Jesus can become a foolish maiden (25:1-13), or a lazy servant (24:14-30), or one who hears the call to basic mercy in the kingdom of God but doesn't do it (25:31-46).

In this way followers of Jesus are urged to be busy with and continue with basic works of mercy. If you do not do this then you are careless and you will stand empty handed on the (last) day of judg­ment. Do not too quickly think these words apply to another, but apply them to your own life.

Mercy to Whom?←⤒🔗

There is always been discussion about the question who Jesus referred to (in verse 40) with "least of these brothers of mine" (in verse 45 this is short­ened to "the least of these"). Especially since the sixties the position has often been defended that Jesus is identifying with all impoverished, helpless and marginalized people. By extension it is also said that at the last judgment it will not be about what we believe but what we have done.

The context of Matthew 25:31-46 allows us to see that Jesus is speaking with his disciples (cf. 24:1, 3-4; 26:1). When He says: "the least of these brothers of mine" that could indicate that he is pointing to his disciples. By "brothers" one could think of followers of Jesus. With "the least of these brothers of mine" Jesus could mean disciples that for a variety of reasons have to endure hardships. Jesus makes it clear that He does not want his impoverished and needy brothers to live without true mercy. That work of mercy is crucial.

Does that mean that you can only show works of mercy towards the followers of Jesus? I think that such a question reads too much into the words of Jesus in Matthew 25. Jesus calls his followers to remain watchful with an eye to his coming. Mutual works of mercy are an important component of this watchfulness. There are enough (other) words and deeds of Jesus to clearly show that works of mercy for his followers cross over all boundaries and brings into practice "showing love to all" (2 Peter 1:7; cf. Galatians 6:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:15).

Diaconal Followers←⤒🔗

Jesus teaches us that mercy begins with simple things: food and drink, shelter and clothing, care for the sick and imprisoned (and dying), basic mercy.

Deacons encourage the congregation in such a manner that this mercy will become part of the pattern of life for the followers of Jesus. Food given, thirst quenched, shelter given, clothing provided, care for the sick, prisoners and dying. "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me".