Sunday Devotional
The Least Of These
Pastor Wes
Join our Facebook page to keep in touch.
Greetings Church! The previous message entitled “Sheep vs Goats” gave us a bit of an intro into the passage we’re going to look at right now. The text is Matthew 25:31-46. In the first few verses, Jesus says at the end of time, he’s going to separate the entire world into 2 groups- sheep and goats.
We had looked at some differing characteristics of sheep and goats, and now Jesus is going to hone in on a difference that I believe plays off the difference I had mentioned about sheep having a strong flocking instinct- being dependent on the flock- and goats in contrast being quick to desire independence. Go ahead and pause right now, and read Matthew 25:31-46.
Ok, so on the day of judgement, Jesus will open up the door of His Kingdom to the sheep on His right, who fed, quenched thirst, were hospitable, provided basic needs, tended to sick, visited the imprisoned- brothers of Christ. And the goats on the left who didn’t do these things to the brothers of Christ, will be sent into eternal punishment. Now it’s really important for us to understand what Jesus meant by His “brothers”- “the least of these”- because eternal consequences are in play. It’s imperative we understand who Jesus is referring to, so we can make sure to do these things for the people He is talking about, because if we do these things- Heaven is the reward, and if we don’t do these things- Hell is the punishment. Now Jesus isn’t preaching a works-based salvation, no- with no amount of good deeds can you earn your way into heaven- salvation is by His grace and forgiveness alone, but these actions He describes will serve as evidences for those you have received His forgiveness and are following Him.
Some use this passage as a call to social justice, ending poverty in the world, deeds of mercy, acts of random kindness. While these may be good causes, I don’t believe that is the specific application Jesus is pointing to here. There are some nearby passages that will help us understand who Jesus was referring to by His “brothers.” Matthew 12:48-50 records Jesus asking the question we are asking, and then His answer. He says “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” So here Jesus defines His “brothers” (and sisters) as those who do the will of God the Father. His brothers and sisters are His disciples, those who believe in and follow Him. This understanding is supported by other New Testament verses, such as John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Now if we understand this passage concerning acts of hospitality to be referring to them being done to other Christians, that doesn’t mean we aren’t supposed to also show love and hospitality to non-believers. No, we are to be loving, hospitable, and kind to non-believers as well. John Piper says it like this: “We are drawn to show mercy to Christians because we see Christ in them, and we are drawn to show mercy to unbelievers because we want to see Christ in them.” But there seems to be a special, emphasized charge given to disciples of Christ loving on and taking care of other disciples of Christ, as seen in this passage, as well as in other passages like Galatians 6:10 which says “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” You see, there’s a special unity that is to be amongst Christ- followers. A special love. A unique type of caring and serving. A priority of ministry to one another.
This passage is a call for the church to be the church. To help support one another, through thick and thin. It is a call to care for the least of these who suffer within the local church congregation, as well as to care for the least of these who suffer as fellow believers across the world.
Now the call of this passage is not just for believers to love other believers, it is also a call for non-believers to love believers. The act of a non-believer giving to a believer, inviting them in, caring for them- shows a respect for the message of the believer. And these acts towards believers might just be the gateway that leads to a non-believer becoming a believer. But it’s also a warning to non-believers, and a declaration of justice for believers who have been persecuted because of their faith. In today’s time, if you are paying attention, you should be able to see the global movement towards the persecution of anyone who takes sides with the Bible. As persecution of believers increases around the world, take comfort in knowing the coming justice King Jesus will bring when He separates the sheep from the goats.
Have you ever heard anyone say “I like Christ, but just don’t like Christians”? Listen, I get the intent of that statement, Jesus was perfect, and people are difficult- even Christians. We all have our share of ways in which we are difficult to love. But this whole passage is a strong warning towards taking on the attitude of loving Christ and then disliking Christians. 1 John 4:20-21 tells us “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” You can’t say you love God, or that you follow Jesus, and reject His people. Your love or hate for God is shown by how you love or hate His people. Your true colors are shown by how you treat other Christians.
This passage in Matthew 25 basically says: as you do to other Christians, you are in as much doing to Jesus Himself. If you are hostile towards a Christian, you are being hostile towards Christ. If you are being unfriendly towards a Christian, you are being unfriendly towards Christ. If you are being rude to a Christian, you are being rude to Christ. But, on the other hand- if you are kind to a Christian, you are being kind to Christ. If you are friendly towards a Christian, you are being friendly to Christ. If you honor a Christian, you are honoring Christ.
Now this passage must cause us to ask some questions of ourselves. Questions like: Would our thoughts, responses, and actions change if we realized our thoughts, responses, and actions aren’t really directed towards another believer, but are directed to Jesus? How would we act differently if every time we saw a fellow church member, we didn’t see them, but we saw Jesus Himself? Would we treat Jesus differently than we treat each other? I want us each to attempt to shift our perspective from seeing each other’s inadequacies, to seeing Jesus in each other. I want us to realize how special it is to be part of God’s family, and for us to realize the importance God places on us supporting one another and cheering each other on. Family, know that you are loved, and may your love for each other grow, and may that love for each other overflow out to everyone you encounter. Sheep life for life!