*Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus teaches that helping those in need is equivalent to helping him, while neglecting them is the same as neglecting him.
- The Son of Man’s Judgment:
- Jesus describes the Son of Man returning in glory, seated on his throne and surrounded by angels.
- All nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.
- The Reward of the Righteous (Sheep):
- The righteous, likened to sheep, are placed on his right and invited to inherit the kingdom.
- The Son of Man commends them for feeding him when he was hungry, giving him drink when thirsty, welcoming him as a stranger, clothing him when naked, caring for him when sick, and visiting him in prison.
- Confused, they ask when they did these things for him.
- He replies that whatever they did for the least of his brothers and sisters, they did for him.
- The Condemnation of the Unrighteous (Goats):
- The unrighteous, likened to goats, are placed on his left and told to depart into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
- The Son of Man condemns them for neglecting to feed, give drink, welcome, clothe, care for, and visit him.
- They too ask when they failed to do these things.
- He explains that whatever they did not do for the least of his brothers and sisters, they did not do for him.
- Final Outcome:
- The unrighteous are sent into eternal punishment, while the righteous are given eternal life.
Matthew 25:31-46 teaches us that loving and serving others is a big part of following Jesus. He says that when we help those in need—feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, welcoming strangers—it’s like we’re serving Him. This reminds us to be kind, generous, and compassionate in our daily lives. We can apply this by looking for ways to help those around us, whether through small acts of kindness or bigger efforts to care for the needy. When we choose to love and serve others, we show that our faith is real and bring joy to God’s heart.
Matthew 25:31-46 (WEB)
25:31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. 36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’37 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’40 “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’44 “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’45 “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”