Matthew 25:44-46
"44 Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee?
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 this prophecy, Christ returns as King in glory, sits on His throne, and separates the nations like sheep from goats.
The righteous “sheep” showed genuine compassion to the needy—often unaware they were serving Jesus Himself. He radically identifies with the vulnerable.
The “goats,” however, hear the terrifying words: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire.” Their neglect of the suffering revealed their rejection of Christ. Like the sheep, they are shocked, having never realized that failing to help “the least of these” was failing Him.
The passage closes with a stark, eternal contrast: everlasting punishment for the unrighteous, eternal life for the righteous. This judgment applies to all nations and is based on actions that reveal the authenticity of faith. It does not teach salvation by works, but shows that genuine faith naturally produces love and charity.
Let us strive to express Jesus’s selfless love through service to others—the visible proof of loving God by loving our neighbor.
Comments
Post a Comment