DAY 28: Caring for all
Reading: Matthew 25:31-46
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers
and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ v40
“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.”
One of the great images of the twentieth century is that of Martin
Luther King preaching on this passage. His oratory swept people
along and they could imagine that they were there at the great day
of judgement with the words of Jesus ringing in their ears, ‘Truly I tell
you, just as you did it to the least of these who are members of my
family, you did it to me.’
At the centre of the parable is the message that we are accountable for
our actions and will, one day be judged. Our compassion as Christians
is not restrained by colour, or religion, or borders. Filled with the
love of God we reach out and minister to everyone because that is
part of the ministry that Jesus had on earth and to which He calls
His followers. We love and serve others because God first loved and
served us. Yet, as we serve those around us, we can so often provoke
within them a response of ‘why do you do this?’ Which then gives us
the opportunity to share something of the love of God.
Let us look beyond the issues which bring people to us and see Jesus
in them.
For further reading Hebrews 6:9-12 - the author's encouragement to help others -
God sees and will remember.
To ponder: At the end of this week when we have looked at the way in
which we care for those around us, what one practical action will you make your priority for the coming days?
To Pray: Compassionate God, who cares for all of you creation, fill my
heart with a desire to serve my sisters and brothers around me,
regardless of colour or race or creed. Help me to see in them
the light of your face. Amen.
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers
and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ v40
“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.”
One of the great images of the twentieth century is that of Martin
Luther King preaching on this passage. His oratory swept people
along and they could imagine that they were there at the great day
of judgement with the words of Jesus ringing in their ears, ‘Truly I tell
you, just as you did it to the least of these who are members of my
family, you did it to me.’
At the centre of the parable is the message that we are accountable for
our actions and will, one day be judged. Our compassion as Christians
is not restrained by colour, or religion, or borders. Filled with the
love of God we reach out and minister to everyone because that is
part of the ministry that Jesus had on earth and to which He calls
His followers. We love and serve others because God first loved and
served us. Yet, as we serve those around us, we can so often provoke
within them a response of ‘why do you do this?’ Which then gives us
the opportunity to share something of the love of God.
Let us look beyond the issues which bring people to us and see Jesus
in them.
For further reading Hebrews 6:9-12 - the author's encouragement to help others -
God sees and will remember.
To ponder: At the end of this week when we have looked at the way in
which we care for those around us, what one practical action will you make your priority for the coming days?
To Pray: Compassionate God, who cares for all of you creation, fill my
heart with a desire to serve my sisters and brothers around me,
regardless of colour or race or creed. Help me to see in them
the light of your face. Amen.
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