Midrash Similar to Jesus’ Separation of Sheep from Goats in Matthew (5/23/21)

The WPC community will undoubtedly recall the Jesus statement quote in Matthew 25:31-46, here, about how he separates the sheep from the goats—by determining who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, etc.  This episode says, in effect, the separation will be made by what a person did in life.  Significantly, what is not stated in this episode is any role for "belief" whatever exactly that is.

I think this is a very Jewish way of thinking.  That should not be surprising because Jesus was a Jew.

A similar story is told in the Jewish tradition by midrash.  Back in 2007, I found this offering in Reform Judaism’s Ten Minutes of Torah.  Unfortunately, I could not find the link today but I had copied the text of the offering and therefore offer it here:

April 12, 2007  

Week 177, Day 4

24 Nisan 5767 

Life after Death: Open the Gates of Righteousness 

Midrash, Thillim Rabbah 118:19 

Text: 

At the time of judgment in the future world everyone will be asked, What was your occupation? If the person answers, I used to feed the hungry, they will say to him, This is Gods gate; you who fed the hungry many enter. I used to give water to those who were thirsty-they will say to him, This is Gods gate; you who gave water to those who were thirsty may enter. I used to clothe the naked-they will say to him, This is Gods gate; you who clothed the naked may enter and similarly with those who raised orphans, and who performed the mitzvah of tzedakah, and who performed acts of caring, loving-kindness. 

Interpretation:

This midrash is based on a verse in the Book of Psalms that says open for me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter to praise God (Psalm 118:19). Although the plain meaning of the text likely refers to the gates of the Jerusalem Temple, where it was believed that Gods Presence resided, the midrash understands it in terms of the future world. Thus the gates of righteousness are understood to be the gates leading into the world-to-come. There was a rabbinic belief that when a person dies, that person will be brought before the heavenly court for judgment and asked a series of questions. The Talmud (Shabbat 31a) delineates the following four questions: Did you conduct your business affairs with honesty? Did you set aside regular time for Torah study? Did you work at having children? Did you look forward to the worlds redemption? These questions clearly demonstrate that ethics is at Judaisms core.

The midrash based on the Book of Psalms also demonstrates Gods concern for how a person lives his or her life and whether a person left the world a better place for others. Such a person, deemed a righteous one, is allowed entrance into the gates of righteousness.