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The question that drove our four-week study of the Sheep and Goats was whether our pursuit of social justice determines our eternal destiny. We concentrated on identifying the various characters in the story, the actions on which the judgment is based, and how the story meshes with everything else we know about salvation by faith.

In all honesty, our greatest concern was probably whether or not we are a “goat”. Do we need to fear the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels? Indeed, that was the issue that prompted the study – the contention that God will send us to hell if we don’t serve the poor and needy of this world. Which is to say, our pursuit has been driven by fear.

So, is fear God’s chosen method to align our hearts with His? In our pursuit of loving what He loves and hating what He hates, that is what we are really seeking – to align our hearts with His. Is fear His only tool, or even His primary tool for this?

Much could, and perhaps, should, be written about this, but a visit to Hebrews 10-11 will show that fear is not His preferred motivation. In 10:19-25, we are told to draw near to God in confidence and stand firm in our faith. This is followed, in 10:26-39, by a warning against falling away, which does include an emphasis on fear. But note that the fundamental approach is to be confidence. And even when he raises the issue of fear, he reminds them that their endurance of suffering was motivated by the expectation of something better (vv. 32-34), not fear. In chapter 11 he surveys some of the heros of faith down through the ages, and how they pleased God. Their motivation is summarized in verse 13 – “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” Through the ages, those who pleased God were not motivated by fear, but faith. Faith in what? God’s promises.

So, let’s return to Matthew 25, and let me ask you a question. At the conclusion of Part 4, last week, how did your heart respond? Were you simply relieved that your fear was needless? Or was there a question as well? Something like, “What about the sheep and the kingdom promised to them? What’s that all about?”

The Promised Kingdom

Indeed, the hope of the promised kingdom was a dominant issue when Jesus arrived on the scene.  By the time we get to the Gospels, both John the Baptist and Jesus are announcing the Kingdom, and speaking of it as well-known and highly anticipated (Matthew 3:1-3; Mark 1:15). So to properly identify it, we need to go back to the Old Testament, to find the basis for this anticipation. A full treatment of the Kingdom requires much more space than we have here, but we can touch on some of the critical developments as the Kingdom unfolds through the Old Testament.

Let’s begin in the Book of Judges, which records the initial 200-300 years of Israel’s history as an independent nation. This period is characterized by cycles in which the people of Israel turn away from God, and, are enslaved by one of the surrounding nations. Eventually, they cry out to God, Who raises up a judge to deliver them. With succeeding generations, the cycle repeats over and over. In these cycles, the character of the people that God uses, and the details of the stories, surprise us. Even the good guys are often rogues. The problem is explained in the last sentence of the book – “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Thus, Judges establishes the need for a king, and lays the groundwork for Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles.

Although we tend to think of Samuel as a prophet, he was the last Judge. At the end of his tenure, Israel demanded a king “like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5). Although this desire reflected Israel’s rejection of God (1 Samuel 8:7), the Kingdom was a part of God’s plan from before the foundation of the world (cf. Matthew 25:34).

So, in response to their rejection, and in line with His plan, God gives them a king. First, of the sort they would choose, a king like the nations around them – Saul. Of course, His reign was a disaster.

Having illustrated the foolishness of their choice, God installs His kind of King – a man after His own heart – David. With this, the Davidic Throne, which will be central to the concept of the Kingdom from here on, is established.

Having secured His reign (2 Samuel 7:1), David wanted to build God a house. Instead, God made a covenant with Him. Included in this covenant is God’s promise that “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). Note the three elements of this promise –

• Dynasty – David’s house will endure forever. Although God had cut off Saul’s line, so that his reign would not continue through his sons (v. 15), God promised that He would never do this with David. His line will always be the royal line.
• Kingdom – The realm over which David ruled – Israel – will endure forever. Although there would be times when He would have to discipline those in David’s line (v. 14), God’s steadfast love would never depart from this line (v. 15). The implication of this promise is that, even during times when Israel is dispersed, they can always expect to be restored as a nation, with one of David’s descendants as King.
• Throne – Whereas “house” emphasizes the royal line, and “kingdom” the realm, “throne” emphasizes the dignity and authority belonging to those who succeeded David. Just as David ruled as sovereign under God’s authority, so would his promised Seed.

These elements provide the framework of the Kingdom. It will be David’s Kingdom – the Nation of Israel – ruled sovereignly by One from David’s line.

As the story continues to unfold, this framework gets fleshed out somewhat. For example, Isaiah 9 references One who will rule on David’s throne (v. 9). Note the description of His reign –

• He will come as light, to those in darkness (v. 2).
• He will bring national growth, prosperity, and gladness to Israel (v. 3).
• Against overwhelming odds, He will deliver Israel from those who oppress them (v. 4).
• Battle gear will be used for fuel, indicating the end of war (v. 5).
• The cause of this will be the birth of a child, God-embodied, on whom the government will rest (v.6).
• His rule in perfect peace, righteousness, and justice will never be overthrown or diminished (v. 7).

Isaiah 11 expresses a similar vision, in connection with One “from the stem of Jesse”, a reference to a descendant of David –

• The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him (v. 2).
• He will judge in perfect knowledge, in perfect righteousness, bringing justice to those afflicted by the wicked (v. 3-5).
• He will bring such complete knowledge of the Lord that pain and destruction will be done away with among all creatures (vv. 6-9).
• Israel will be pre-eminent among all nations, and all the dispersed Jews will return to Israel (vv. 10-16).

Although there are a number of other passages we could consider, from these we get a glimpse of The Kingdom –

• All Israel’s oppressors will be finally and completely defeated.
• Christ, David’s Ultimate Descendant, will be ruling over the Nation of Israel.
• All the scattered people of Israel will be regathered.
• Israel will be pre-eminent among all nations.
• Christ’s government will establish perfect peace, justice and righteousness in all the earth.

This is what the disciples were counting on. The very last words they shared with Christ were about this – “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).

His answer? “Only the Father knows the timing, but in the meantime, you will be my witnesses.”

Then He ascends out of sight, leaving them standing there, staring after Him.

Immediately, two angels show up, assuring them that He will return, just as He left.

It is the anticipation of this Return that is to characterize believers throughout the New Testament age (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 1:11-12). And it ought to characterize us. Rather than living in fear of God’s judgment, we should be looking for the Messiah to restore the Kingdom of Israel and so we can share in the promised blessings.

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