Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Matthew 28:16 "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them." We conclude our study, Gathering in the Name of Jesus, with the final four verses of Matthew’s Gospel. This has been a rewarding journey into God’s plan and the teachings of our Lord and Savior. Last week we saw a key truth: when we aid the vulnerable—especially fellow believers in need—we touch God’s heart and bring Him delight. God meets us in suffering humanity; how we treat others reveals our relationship with Him. Today’s passage brings us to Jesus’ final moments with His disciples. The number “eleven” is significant, underscoring Judas Iscariot’s absence after his betrayal and death. Despite their earlier abandonment (Matthew 26:56), these eleven men remain the core group chosen to receive Jesus’ parting instructions. Their journey to Galilee shows obedience to His earlier command, delivered through the women at the tomb (Matthew 28:10). Galilee was the hear...

Matthew 25:45&46 "45 Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." In verses 42–44, Jesus vividly describes the “goats” (the cursed) failing to help the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, or imprisoned—and He takes it personally. This passage identifies Christ with the marginalized, teaching that compassion (or its absence) toward others directly reflects our relationship with Him. “The least of these” often refers to fellow believers or any vulnerable person; serving them is serving Jesus Himself. These verses conclude Jesus’ teaching on final judgment in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats. The contrast is stark: • Everlasting punishment for those who showed no compassion—eternal separation from God. • Eternal life for the righteous who served “the least”—everlasting communion with God...

Matthew 25:41 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" We have been reflecting on a profound truth from our Lord: Helping the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, or imprisoned is not merely kindness—it is direct service to Jesus Himself. Serving God means serving our neighbor. Genuine faith expresses itself in loving action, especially toward "the least of these." This truth transforms lives, communities, and the world: When we aid the vulnerable—particularly fellow believers in need—we touch God's heart and bring Him delight. The divine encounters us in suffering humanity; how we treat others reveals our relationship with God. Today's verse addresses the other side: "Depart from me, ye cursed" signals final, eternal separation from God, the source of all good. The condemned are under divine judgment for rejecting God's grace and failing to...

Matthew 25:40 "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." The heart of this verse is profound: Helping the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, or imprisoned is not just kindness to people—it's direct service to Jesus Himself. Every act of care becomes worship and work for God. You serve God by serving your neighbor. Genuine faith shows itself in loving action toward others, especially "the least of these." The righteous are surprised by this revelation because their service flows from sincere compassion, not recognition. This truth transforms lives, communities, and the world: When we aid the vulnerable—particularly Christ's followers in need—we touch God's heart and delight Him. We are all brothers and sisters, bearing His image. So many need help—let every act of giving spread His love. Appreciate this deep spiritual identific...

Matthew 25:37-39 "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? The sheep—those blessed with faith in Jesus—are favored by God through divine grace and election, not personal merit (Ephesians 1:3–4). Eternal life is a gift, an inheritance for God’s children, never earned. God’s plan of salvation was established before creation as part of His eternal purpose for His people. Yesterday’s verses revealed God’s perspective: Jesus praises His disciples for aiding the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and imprisoned—not merely as acts of kindness toward people, but as service directly to Him! It’s miraculous that helping those in need counts as giving to God Himself. Every act of caregiving becomes worship and work for God. This truth transforms individuals, c...

Matthew 25:35&36 "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. In this passage, Jesus describes the final judgment at His return. He will come in glory with His holy angels, sit on His throne, and separate all nations: sheep on His right (symbolizing honor and blessing) and goats on His left (disfavor). Those on the right—blessed by faith in Christ—are favored through God’s grace and election, not personal merit (Ephesians 1:3–4). Eternal life is a gift, an inheritance prepared before creation as part of God’s eternal purpose. Jesus praises His followers for serving the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and imprisoned. Remarkably, He declares that what they did for “the least of these,” they did for Him. This reveals a profound truth: serving people in need is serving God Himself. Every act of care b...