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“And the King will answer them,
‘Truly, I say to you,
as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers,
you did it to Me.'”

– Jesus, to the disciples (Matthew 25:40)

In Jesus’ foretelling of the Last Day, a King has separated the righteous from the wicked. As He rewards His followers, He mentions specific actions of kindness that they had performed for Him. But the righteous are puzzled, having no recollection of ever serving the King personally. The King then clarifies: what they did for the least of His brothers, they did for Him.

Much ink has been spilled in heated debate over the phrase “the least of these My brothers.” Some claim that Jesus is referring to any poor and needy person in the world. Others counter that based on passages where “the least of these” specifically refer to Jesus’ disciples, Jesus is judging people based on the care they have given His followers.

When all is said and done, both teachings have biblical support. God has called us to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ, proving that we are a member of His family by showing love and kindness to fellow family members. God has also called us to show mercy to any person in need, even if they are not Christians. Still, in this specific passage, the “least of these” probably refer to Jesus’ disciples, “His brothers” who will soon face persecution and be in dire need.

A common Jewish belief in Jesus’ day was that the nations of the world would ultimately be judged based on how they had treated Israel. In a surprising twist, Jesus declares that the world will be judged on the basis of its treatment of His family – the renewed and restored Israel being built around Himself. Notice how strongly Jesus identifies with His disciples. Jesus counts the good deeds performed for His followers as applying directly to Him.

The key for us as Christians is to see the reflection of Jesus in our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must understand that hidden in the suffering followers of Christ is Jesus Himself – the Servant who promises to bring the justice of God to the world. As we serve one another, we are ultimately serving Jesus.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

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