About the Hymn
This hymn is a retelling and application of what is commonly called “the parable of the sheep and goats,” one of several eschatological parables Jesus shared with his disciples on Tuesday of Holy Week.
The hymn text encourages us Christians that we can anticipate the Last Day with excitement and awe, never fear or dread, for the One who comes to judge us is also the One who saved us.
The text also strives to clarify a difficult concept in the parable. On initial reading of Matthew 25, one might think Jesus is establishing some kind of conditional agreement: If we do good works for our
neighbors, then he will invite us into his heavenly home. But this isn’t the case. The good works of the believers are the evidence, not the cause, of their belonging to Christ. Their good works are done in gratitude, not under compulsion or fear.
All our works are but an off’ring
of our gratitude and praise.
We serve not so God will save us;
we serve God because we’re saved.
This text was written in 2014 for the student body chapel service at Luther Seminary-St. Paul, at the request of Dr. Steven Paulson, professor of systematic theology.
The hymn should be performed at a decisive♩= ca. 120.
Text
1. See, he comes, the King of glory,
angels blazing ’round his throne,
wielding wrath to those who spurned him,
bearing blessings for his own.
Do not dread that day, dear Christian!
Do not fear his fearsome face,
for that Judge is our dear Savior.
We are guarded by his grace.
2. See he comes, the King of glory,
naming deeds we did for him:
feeding, clothing, sharing, caring,
visiting, inviting in.
We may ask, “When did we do this—
show you, Lord, such courtesy?”
He will say, “The least, the lowly—
ev’ry soul you served—was me.”
3. See, he comes, the King of glory,
with a kingdom to award.
We have not deserved or earned it;
it’s his gift, not our reward.
All our works are but an off’ring
of our gratitude and praise.
We serve not so God will save us;
we serve God because we’re saved.
4. Till he comes, the King of glory,
angels blazing ’round his throne,
we will turn our eyes to heaven,
tune our ears to trumpet’s tone.
But we won’t neglect our neighbors
needing comfort, shelter, love.
Kindnesses for friends and strangers
serve our Savior King above.
© 2014 Laurie F. Gauger
Lectionary Reading
New Year’s Day: Matthew 25:31–46
Year A, Season after Pentecost, Proper 29 (34): Matthew 25:31–46
The Sheep and the Goats
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
