Today's lectionary readings (gospel reading) afford me an opportunity to share a view which will probably make me unpopular with some people (so why would I want to?...hmmm.. am I a theological masochist?).Today in Matthew 10 we read this verse:
"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is known to be my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly be rewarded." (v 42).
This, I would suggest, is pretty obviously an anticipation of the longer parable of the Sheep and the Goats that we find later on in Matthew (25: 31-46).
I've got to say that I think The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats is one of the most misused passages of scripture I've ever heard. The message, we are told, is usually something along the lines of:
'it's really important to minister to the poor because when we do so we are actually ministering to Christ. Jesus told us that whenever we feed or clothe someone, or give them something to drink, we are actually doing it to him'.
I've lost count of the number of times I've heard the Sheep/Goats story used in that way.
But I don't think that's what Jesus is saying in that passage at all.
The key to understanding it is surely the phrase "the least of these brothers and sisters of mine" (25:40). This was a phrase that Jesus used (also in Matt 10:42 quoted above) to refer to his disciples. In fact in the Matthew 10 passage he makes the link explicit ("one of these little ones who is known to be my disciple").
So the sheep/goats story isn't about how we treat poor people. IT'S ABOUT HOW PEOPLE TREAT JESUS' DISCIPLES!
They were the ones who Jesus was sending out with nothing - no food, no extra tunic, etc. i.e. in relative poverty and reliant on the generosity of those they encountered. (see the gospel texts from last week - the fourth Sunday after Trinity). How they were received and treated would influence God's judgement of people.
All of that is not to say, of course, that we shouldn't care for the poor and those in need. OF COURSE WE SHOULD. Just not on the basis of the sheep/goats story which is making a different point entirely.
Ok - rant over. Thanks for listening!
2 comments:
thanks Mark. I guess I would have to say that it cuts both ways though: you say it worries you when an argument is made based on one phrase - I would respond by saying that the burden of proof then lies with those who use this story to say that Jesus is somehow 'in the poor' (simply by virtue of them being poor) - where else do we find this idea in scripture? So I would say that that interpretation is as good an example as any of an argument being made on the basis of one phrase/story.
I still think the phrase 'the least of these' is a very specific way that Jesus had of referring to his disciples. But I've been wrong before and I'm sure I will be many more times!
As for me claiming 'some great wisdom missed by everyone else' - I would be the last to claim I was wise and I am sure I have read this interpretation in at least one commentary on the passage. It is very unlikely that I would have the theological skill required to come up with something like that on my own!
Presumably though you have nothing against us continuing to wrestle with the text to understand it more clearly than maybe we did before - as long as we do it in the context of Christian community (as it is the text of the community) - which I guess I am doing with the blogosphere being one manifestation of that community?
Actually, Matt, I think you're spot on with your interpretation/argument and several prominent/reputable commentators say the same thing.
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