Scriptures: Matthew 25:31-46
The Final Judgement
Matthew 25:31-46
“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.”
Here Jesus calls us to care for those in need, and that in doing so to the least of people, we are doing the same to Him.
Be encouraged by the following scriptures:
James 2:14-17 WEB What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? (15) And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, (16) and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled;” and yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it? (17) Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
1 John 3:16-24 WEB By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (17) But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him? (18) My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. (19) And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, (20) because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. (21) Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; (22) and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. (23) This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded. (24) He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.
Proverbs 19:17 AFV He who has pity upon the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward his good deed to him.
Isaiah 58:6-10 AFV Is not this, rather, the fast that I have chosen—to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed ones go free, and that you break every yoke? (7) Is it not to give of your bread to the hungry, and that you should bring home the wandering poor? When will you see the naked and cover him; and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
(8) Then shall your light break out as the dawn, and your health shall spring out quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. (9) Then you shall call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and He shall say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take the yoke away from among you, the pointing of the finger, and speaking malice; (10) And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in darkness, and your gloom shall be as the noonday.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 AFV Charge those who are rich in this present age not to be high minded, nor to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches; but to put their hope in the living God, Who abundantly gives us all things for our enjoyment; (18) To do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous in giving, to be ready to share; (19) Treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Hebrews 13:16 AFV Now do not forget to do good and to fellowship, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Acts 10:38 AFV Concerning Jesus, Who was from Nazareth: how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.