Loyally Supporting Christ's Brothers

THE PARABLE TEACHES US THAT THE PREACHING WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT

Jesus did not use the words "preach" or preaching work" in the parable of the sheep and the goats. So how do we know that the parable teaches us that the preaching work is very important? 

To find the answer, we first have to remember that Jesus was teaching a lesson by means of a parable. He was not talking about real sheep and goats. So in the same way, he did not mean that every person who will be judged as a sheep should give food and clothes to the anointed, look after them when they are sick, or visit them in prison. No, Jesus described the sheep as "righteous" because they view the anointed as his brothers  and because  they are loyal to the anointed during these  difficult last days. -Matthew 10:40-42; 25:40, 46; 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

When Jesus gave the parable of the sheep and the goats, he had been talking about what would happen in the time of the end. (Matthew 24:3) For example, he said:  "This good news of the Kingdom will be preached throughout all the inhabited earth." (Matthew 24:14) And then, just before he spoke about the sheep and the goats, he spoke about the  parable of the talents.  Jesus told the parable to teach the anointed ones that they must work hard in the preaching work.  But there are only a small number of them left on earth, and ther  is so much work to do!  The anointed have been told to preach to "all the nations" before the end. As we learn in the parable of the sheep and the goats, "the sheep" help Jesus' brothers. And one of the best ways they can do this is to help  Jesus' brothers with the preaching work. But is it enough just to donate money for the work or to encourage them to do the preaching work? 

Next time: Loyally Supporting Christ's Brothers - WHO SHOULD TEACH?

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015