Matthew 25:40 KJV
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:31-40 KJV
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
In this parable, Jesus emphasizes the reality of judgement.
Under the New Covenant, we are only found righteous in the eyes of God, through the righteousness of Christ as our Lord and Savior. The blood of Jesus washes and cleanses those who have accepted Him from all unrighteousness in God’s eyes.
The sheep in the parable represent those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and are His followers. These will inherit His Kingdom and blessings.
The goats represent those who have rejected Christ and will receive eternal separation from God. Eternal damnation.
We are not concentrating on the “sheep” or the “goats” in this lesson, per se.
However, we are looking at what He expects of the sheep who will sit on His right hand and inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world.
THE GOLDEN RULE +++
As we have studied in other lessons, the “Golden Rule” basically instructs us to do unto others what we would want done for us.
If we are hungry, we would want someone to give us food. If we are cold, we would want a coat. If thirsty, we would want water. If in need in any way, we would want help.
Because this is how we would want to be treated, this is how we are to treat others. Especially, those less fortunate for some reason.
The above scriptures take the Golden Rule to this level.
Jesus says, when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you invited me in. When I was needing clothes, you gave me clothes. When I was in prison, you came to see me.
Then, the righteous, being confused and curious, ask when did we ever do these things?
The King’s answer explains it so that everyone will know. If you have done it for one of the least of these, you have done it for me.
Jesus says that if we have treated someone who is less fortunate with provision, care and compassion, we have simultaneously done the same to Him.
In other words, as we stand before God, disciples and followers of Jesus have metaphorically already encountered Jesus in this earthly life, in the persons of the needy. And, how we have treated the poor and needy, is how we have treated Christ.
The apostle John, who was there to hear this parable of Jesus, sums it up well.
1 John 3:17-18 KJV
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:17-18 Amplified Bible
17 But whoever has the [a]world’s goods (adequate resources), and sees his brother in need, but has no compassion for him, how does the love of God live in him? 18 Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].
Finally, think and meditate on the following.
RVH