The story of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46

by | Nov 19, 2024 | Bible

 

 

Read the story of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A31-46&version=NIV).

Giving food and water are part of the Christian vocation and is rooted in the creation account we discussed earlier. What implications might this have on the role of industries such as textiles (think of cotton and wool), agriculture, and water supply networks in God’s work on Earth?

You may find John Wesley’s reflection on this passage helpful. He said that money in the hands of God’s children “is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, raiment for the naked: It gives to the traveler and the stranger where to lay his head. By it we may supply the place of a husband to the widow, and of a father to the fatherless. We may be a defense for the oppressed, a means of health to the sick, of ease to them that are in pain; it may be as eyes to the blind, as feet to the lame; yea, a lifter up from the gates of death!” (The Use of Money).

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

The story of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 highlights the importance of caring for those in need, particularly through basic necessities like food, water, and clothing. This passage has implications for various industries, reminding them of their potential role in God’s work on Earth.

Textiles (Cotton and Wool):

  • Sustainable Practices: The passage emphasizes caring for creation. The industry should prioritize sustainable practices, minimizing environmental damage caused by cotton and wool production. This could involve using organic farming methods, water conservation techniques, and fair labor practices.
  • Focus on Basic Needs: The story reminds us that clothing serves a basic necessity. The industry could shift focus to producing high-quality, durable clothing at accessible prices, ensuring everyone has access to proper attire.

The story of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 highlights the importance of caring for those in need, particularly through basic necessities like food, water, and clothing. This passage has implications for various industries, reminding them of their potential role in God’s work on Earth.

Textiles (Cotton and Wool):

  • Sustainable Practices: The passage emphasizes caring for creation. The industry should prioritize sustainable practices, minimizing environmental damage caused by cotton and wool production. This could involve using organic farming methods, water conservation techniques, and fair labor practices.
  • Focus on Basic Needs: The story reminds us that clothing serves a basic necessity. The industry could shift focus to producing high-quality, durable clothing at accessible prices, ensuring everyone has access to proper attire.
  • Ethical Labor Practices: The focus on caring for “the least of these” extends to ensuring fair treatment of workers throughout the supply chain.

Agriculture:

  • Food Security: The passage emphasizes providing food for the hungry. The agricultural industry has a responsibility to contribute to food security by focusing on efficient and sustainable practices that can increase food production and accessibility. This includes reducing food waste and supporting small-scale farmers.
  • Responsible Food Production: The industry should consider ethical and responsible food production methods that minimize environmental impact and promote animal welfare.

Water Supply Networks:

  • Universal Access: Just as the story highlights the importance of providing water to the thirsty, water supply networks should strive for universal access to clean water. This may involve infrastructure development in underserved areas and ensuring affordability.
  • Water Conservation: The passage reminds us to be responsible stewards of creation. Water supply networks can play a crucial role in promoting water conservation practices and educating consumers on responsible water usage.

John Wesley’s Reflection and the Role of Industries:

John Wesley’s reflection on money as a tool for good aligns with the message of Matthew 25. Industries have the potential to use their resources and profits to address the needs of the less fortunate. This could involve:

  • Supporting Social Responsibility Initiatives: Businesses can invest in projects that provide food, water, and clothing to those in need.
  • Fair Trade Practices: Participating in fair trade initiatives can ensure that workers in developing countries receive fair wages and working conditions, indirectly providing for their basic needs.
  • Sustainable Development Goals: Aligning business practices with the UN Sustainable Development Goals can empower industries to address social and environmental issues related to food, water, and clothing.

By considering their role in meeting basic human needs and caring for creation, industries can move beyond mere profit-driven models and contribute to God’s work of love and justice on Earth.

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