This parable addresses the question, "Who shall be received into the eternal kingdom?" The common Jewish answers were: (a) Those physically related to Abraham. (b) Those who lived by the law of Moses. (c) Those who kept the ceremonies and traditions. (d) Those who worshipped correctly. (e) Those who worshipped in the right place (the temple).

1. What is said about the coming of the Son of Man (verse 31)?

2. Who would be gathered before him? What will occur (verse 32)?

3. What will he say to the sheep on his right (verse 34)?
   1. How long has the kingdom they inherit been in preparation?

   2. What is an inheritance?

4. List the six reasons given that qualified them to inherit (verses 35,36).
   1.  

   2.  

   3.  

   4.  

   5.  

   6.  

5. How did the righteous respond (verses 37-39)?

6. State the king's answer (verse 40).

7. What did the king say to those on the left (verses 41-43)?

8. What was their answer (verse 44)?

9. What was the king's response (verse 45)?

10. What happened to those on the left (verse 46)?

Things to note about the kingdom of God:

1. People enter the kingdom in its full, complete form after the judgment.

2. The kingdom will include people from all nations (from the Jewish perspective, a shocking declaration).

3. In this parable, everyone expected to enter the kingdom; those who were rejected thought that the rejection was unjust.

4. The separation factor: the manner that the person had treated other people. In this parable, that factor determined if a person was accepted or rejected.
   1. It was not theology.

   2. It was not worship practices.

   3. It was not ceremonial or traditional differences.

   4. It was not lineage.

   5. The point is not that matters such as theology or worship are unimportant.

   6. The point is that theology and worship are incapable of serving as a replacement for compassion, kindness, mercy, and forgiveness.

5. In God's priorities, our love for and treatment of people is second only to our love for and treatment of Him.

6. According to Jesus, the way that we treat people is the way that we treat him.

David Chadwell

Jesus' Kingdom Parables Study Guide (part 13)
Wednesday evening Bible class, 10 June - 18 November 1998
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR

Copyright © 1998
Permission is granted to freely copy and distribute with text unchanged, including author's name.

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