只是問一下 (8)：我們要做在耶穌身上？

不久之前，有人提問馬太福音第二十五章綿羊和山羊的比喻。
他想探討的其實是善行與信心的對比。

他的疑問是可以理解的.
我也無意淡化這個難題。

相反，我的問題是——
耶穌講述這個比喻，是希望祂的門徒將人當為耶穌來看待嗎？
或至少懷著這個意念待人？
以防其中一個果真是耶穌？

我真的想知道。

多年以前，我在一所醫學院的牆上看到馬太福音第二十五章的一節經文：
我病了，你們看顧我（太二十五36《和修》）。

我為自己的女兒選擇行醫這一行而自豪，尤其是她選擇了那所醫學院。
當然我希望她會以對待耶穌的態度來對待她每一個病人。

在綿羊和山羊的比喻中，那在右邊的感到驚詫，驚詫於他們曾經看顧耶穌。
他們看顧了一個病人。
他們並非以看顧耶穌為出發點。
他們只是看顧一個病人罷了。
單是那個舉動，沒有甚麼意圖或動機，他們就在審判之日蒙接納。
這就是驚詫。
耶穌回報那個舉動，沒有別的，驚詫也是！

看來，若為了得到耶穌的讚賞和驚詫而處心積慮，在心理上訓練自己以恩慈對待陌生人，將他們當為耶穌或可能是耶穌那樣來看待，是直接與比喻的要旨相悖的。

回到善行與信心的對比，究竟哪一樣使你在審判之日過關？
看來真正的善行，就是那些毫不在意動機或回報的舉動。

這豈不正是上主所欣賞的嗎？

我只是問一下。

The Good Samaritan (Brothers Dalziel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Just Asking (8): Are we to do it to Jesus?

Some days ago someone asked about the parable of goats and sheep in Mt 25.
His intended discussion was about works vs faith.

That’s understood.
I have no intention to downplay that.

Rather just want to ask.
Did Jesus speak the parable so his followers would treat people with Jesus as their intended target?
Or at least behind it all?
Just in case one turns out to be?

I really wonder.

Years ago I saw this sentence from Mt 25 on the wall of a medical school:
I was sick and you took care of me (25:36 NET).

I was proud of my daughter choosing her profession, and even more so, choosing that particular medical school.
Surely I was hoping she would thereon deal with each and every one of her patients as if they were Jesus.

In the parable those on the right were surprised, surprised that they had cared for Jesus.
They treated a sick person.
They had not set out to treat Jesus.
They just treated a sick person.
For that mere act, sans the intention or motive, they were admitted at judgement.
That was the surprise.
Jesus rewarded it, just as it was, surprise and all!

It seems that to turn the key in Jesus praise and surprise into a scheme to train oneself into some sort of psychological conditioning in treating strangers with mercy and love, as if they were or could be Jesus, goes directly counter to the thrust of the parable.

Returning to the discussion of works vs faith that gets you over at judgement.
It seems that true works are done when you least care about motive or reward.

Isn’t it that’s appreciated by the Lord?

I’m just asking.