When I was studied for my Master degree in the Institute of Pastoral Studies one of my scripture professors had us write an updated bible like stories. After writing our recent Parable, Thy Kingdom Come…on Earth as it is in heaven I thought about doing a paraphrase update on the parable in Matthew 25 that used to be called the Judgment of Nations and now is usually called the Sheep and Goats. Here is a paraphrase of Matthew 25:31–45, New International Reader’s Version (NIRV) with a gender change.
The Sheep and the Goats
31 “Sophia, Wisdom of God will come in all her glory. All the angels will come with him. Then she will sit on her throne in the glory of heaven. 32 All the churches will be gathered in front of her. She will separate the people into two groups. She will be like a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats. 33 She will put the sheep to his right and the goats to her left.
34 “Then the Queen will speak to those on her right. She will say, ‘God has blessed you. Come and take what is yours. It is the kingdom prepared for you since the world was created. 35 I did not have a bed to sleep on and you gave me one. I did not have a refrigerator to store food and drink for my family and you gave me one.36 I needed a stove to cook food for my family and you gave one to me. I had no home furnishing and you visited me and gave me what you could.’
37 “Then the people who have done what is right will answer him. ‘Queen’ they will ask, ‘when did we see you sleeping on the floor and give you a bed? When did we see you without a stove or refrigerator and gave you one? 38 When did we see you needing a stove and refrigerator and gave you one? When did we visit you without home furnishings and give you what we could?
40 “The Queen will reply, ‘what I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you did for one of the least important of these sisters and brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then she will say to those on her left, ‘You are cursed! Go away from me into the fire that burns forever. It has been prepared for the devil and his angels. 35 I did not have a bed to sleep on and you did give me one with your abundance. I did not have a refrigerator to store food and drink for my family and you would not give me one with your abundance. 36 I needed a stove to cook food for my family, and you would not, despite your abundance, give me one. I had no home furnishing and you would not visit me and gave me what you could.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Queen, when did we see you without a bed and not help you? When did we see you without a stove and refrigerator and not help you?’ When did we visit you without home furnishings and not give you what we could?
45 “She will reply, ‘what I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you didn’t do for one of the least important of these, you didn’t do for me.’
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