King Of The Jews - Epilogue

In the book of Matthew, Jesus prophecies of his return as King thusly,

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me". Matthew 25:31-40

Jesus continues by condemning those that He sets on His left, the goat nations, as having neglected Him by neglecting the care and ministry of His brethren. "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" Matthew 25:41

Many scholars believe that the "brethren" herein referred to are the Nation of Israel, Jesus' brethren after the flesh, or those of His people to whom He is related by blood. The time period referred to is that of the Great Tribulation, when to assist the Jews will be similar to having assisted the Jews during the Nazi Holocaust, in that one will be risking their very life to help God's chosen people; just as those who helped the Jews during Hitler's rampage risked their own lives.

The connection between David the shepherd and King Jesus, now come in the manner of the Messiah ben David and performing the function of a shepherd is inescapable. Of course this passage is a call to Christians to be compassionate to the less fortunate of the world, but the overriding message is a stern warning and an encouragement to be loving, kind and compassionate towards the Jewish people; now and forever. God repeats His promise to bless those that bless the Jews and curse those that curse them.

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