For ease in sifting through my series on Matthew 25 (the Final Judgment and the Sheep and Goats), I am providing links below for each installment in the series. 

1. Longing for Judgment
2. Inheriting the Kingdom
3. Human Need
4. Serving Jesus by Serving Others
5. The Least of These
6. Depart from Me
7. You Ignored Me
8. When Did We Fail You?
9. Final Judgment

“Then He will answer them, saying,
‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these,
you did not do it to Me.’
And these will go away into eternal punishment,
but the righteous into eternal life.’”
- Jesus, to the disciples (Matthew 25:45-46)

As Jesus concludes His description of the coming Judgment Day, we see just how closely He identifies with His people. Those placed to the left of the throne are astonished to discover that they neglected the King in His time of need. Jesus informs them that whenever they turned their backs on one of His followers, they were essentially turning their backs on Him.

The “least of these” mentioned here most likely refer to Jesus’ disciples, which means that people are being judged based on their treatment of Jesus within His people. Yet, Jesus’ teaching clearly calls us as Christians to care for the “least of these” among our neighbors as well. We cannot turn our backs on the poor and needy of our world, because our obeying Jesus in this matter stands as one of the proofs that we are among God’s chosen people.

Once we grasp how closely Jesus identifies with His followers, we come to grips with another profound implication: our treatment of our brothers and sisters in Christ applies to Jesus Himself. Christ is hidden within His people, those chosen by God to reflect His glory into a dark and fallen world. If we turn away and neglect our Christian family, we are ultimately declaring through our actions that we are not family members.

The apocalyptic scene ends with the righteous and wicked departing to their respective destinations: the wicked face eternal punishment while the righteous rejoice to take part in the new heavens and new earth promised by God for His people. Before Jesus’ throne on the Last Day, there will only be two kinds of people and only two final destinations. Some will inherit the Kingdom that was prepared for them from the beginning of time. Others will be sent to an everlasting judgment never intended to be theirs.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

“Then they also will answer, saying,
‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison,
and did not minister to You?’”
- Jesus, to the disciples (Matthew 25:44)

In Jesus’ description of Judgment Day, the wicked people standing to the left of His throne react with dismay when their sentence is announced. The King claims that they are being condemned for choosing to neglect Him in His time of need.

Just as the righteous were astounded to discover that they had served the King personally, so now the wicked have their chance to express their amazement, for they are taken aback at the notion that they have not cared for the King.

The people receiving condemnation are shocked to discover that they have not lived as true disciples. Taking issue with the King’s sentence, they claim to have never rejected Him outright. From this painful portrait of judgment, we learn an important lesson: those on the path to destruction often do not realize it.

The Last Day will be filled with surprises. Many who believe they are confidently among the people of God will discover that their actions (or non-actions) prove otherwise. Other people, who may have no recollection of taking care of the King, will enjoy the endless feast of God’s banquet. One cannot confess Christ with their lips and counter that confession by their lifestyle. Christians must be involved in acts of spontaneous kindness, caring for people in need, especially fellow believers.

Acts of mercy occupy the heart of this passage about God’s judgment. The primary concern at this point is not with mercy being given by God’s people to the needy of the world, but with acts of mercy being performed for God’s followers by the people to whom they have been sent. Jesus has a message of hope and encouragement for His disciples. Those who reject them are actually rejecting Him.

The challenge remains powerful for us even today. How well are we taking care of our brothers and sisters in Christ? We cannot claim to be loyal to our King as long as we are disloyal to His subjects.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

“For I was hungry and you gave Me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me,
naked and you did not clothe Me,
sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’”
- Jesus, to the disciples (Matthew 25:42-43)

When foretelling of the events of Judgment Day, Jesus describes a scene in which people are placed either to the right or the left of His throne. Those to the right are commended for providing care for their King in His time of need. The ones on the left are reprimanded for neglecting Him, for refusing to provide care for “the least of these,” – the King’s followers.

Most people equate “sins” with “bad actions,” deeds that are unpleasing to God and morally wrong. Interestingly enough, in this passage, not a single sinful deed is given as a reason for punishment. Jesus does not speak of sins committed. Here the sins are good actions omitted. What the condemned people didn’t do establishes their guilty sentence.

These sins of omission cover three basic human needs: sustenance, shelter, and support. The people being punished neglected the King by denying Him food and water, closing the door in His face, leaving Him cold and naked, and forgetting His trials in prison. Jesus does not speak of any specific action taken against the King – only that of neglect and indifference.

As Christians, we can take comfort in knowing that God notices the small acts of kindness we perform for others in His name. But that comfort should be balanced by the awareness that God also notices when we refuse to perform those good works. Even the small and seemingly insignificant actions (or non-actions) will lead to big consequences on the Last Day. We are called to manifest the faith that exists in our hearts by rolling up our sleeves and getting involved in providing care for others.

It is our service to others, especially to Christ’s disciples, that ultimately counts as being service to the King Himself. We are called to embody the glory of God within a community of believers, a community that the New Testament describes as a family. In the passage at hand, those who have neglected to care for those in Christ’s family have demonstrated they were never part of that family at all.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

“Then He will say to those on His left,
‘Depart from Me, you cursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!’”
- Jesus, to the disciples (Matthew 25:41)

The human heart longs for justice, to see God right the wrongs that have taken place in our world and bring the universe back into balance. In describing what the final moment of God’s justice will be like, Jesus speaks of people being brought before the throne of a King who separates them like a shepherd does his sheep from the goats. The righteous people who are placed to the right of the King’s throne are commended for the many times they cared for His servants. They inherit the Kingdom that has been prepared for them from the beginning of time.

What happens with the people standing to the left of Jesus seems at first sight to be a repeat of the scenario, only this time all the rewards are replaced by punishments. But there are several crucial differences. The most important distinction is that while the Kingdom was prepared specifically for the righteous, the fiery hell that the wicked depart to was not prepared for them at all. Jesus claims that the place of eternal punishment was prepared for the rebellious angels and Satan.

Another distinction is that God’s kingdom is shown as being prepared for His people from the beginning of time; hell has been prepared, but it has not existed from the foundation of the world.

The true tragedy of the moment is striking. The cursed are being sent to a fate that was never meant to be theirs. Hell was not made for people. Eternal punishment means total separation from the love of God. It is a most unnatural state for a human being to be in, since God created humans in His image. And that is why the tragedy of hell is so disturbing. Rejection of the King ultimately means exclusion from His kingdom.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

“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

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You a drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’”
- Jesus, to the disciples (Matthew 25:37-39)

Jesus’ description of the Final Judgment that will take place before His royal throne contains many surprises and twists. The King has divided the people, placing some to His right and others to His left, and He has just announced that those on His right can inherit their rightful place in His Kingdom because of the acts of service they performed for Him.

But here, we see that the righteous are taken aback by the explanation. Their astonishment comes not from their being welcomed into the Kingdom, but from the King’s declaration that they have served Him personally. How could it be that they served the King without ever realizing it? Jesus will later explain that the good deeds the righteous performed for the King’s followers were counted as if done for the King Himself.

The righteous people that will inherit God’s Kingdom are those who often serve the Lord without ever realizing it. True believers do not minister to others as a photo-op, hoping to receive earthly accolades and praise. Their service comes not from self-seeking motives, but from the overflow of a Christ-like heart. Those who will be placed to the right of Jesus will be the ones who have served Him by serving others.

Of course, there’s no sense in purposefully pretending not to recognize the goodness of a particular action performed in accordance with Jesus’ commands. The point is not to ignore good works, but to take advantage of the opportunities to serve Jesus, our King, by seeing His reflection in the faces of our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Christians are called to live within a community of believers, to help one another, to share belongings, and ensure that everyone’s needs are met. It is in our service to our Christian family that we are personally serving our King.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

“For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.”
- Jesus, to the disciples (Matthew 25:35-36)

In speaking about the events that will transpire on the Day of Judgment, Jesus described Himself as a King giving His subjects permission to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the beginning of time. The King then commends the people on His right for taking care of Him and sharing with Him whenever He had been in need.

The good deeds that the King recalls cover three essential areas of human need. The people have given Him sustenance, shelter and support. They gave Him sustenance by alleviating His hunger and thirst with food and water. By opening their homes to Him and giving Him clothes, they provided Him with shelter. They supported Him even when He was sick and in prison by coming to visit Him.

Jesus expects us to be involved in these same works of mercy. Christians must be on the frontlines when it comes to helping the needy, especially when those in need are followers of Christ. As Jesus continues foretelling the events of Judgment Day, it will become clear that it is our service to others, especially to Christ’s disciples that He counts as being service to Himself.

If you claim to believe in Jesus and yet deny others access to your home, give the cold shoulder to a needy brother or sister in Christ, or look away from the physical needs of those in desperate straits, you are living a lie. Authentic faith cannot be relegated only to the realm of belief; it must have its outworking in practice.

Giving a cup of water to the thirsty in Jesus’ name may seem a trivial action, but God takes notice of our faithfulness in the little things of life. Our actions may seem small and insignificant, but God sees even our “little” acts of service that identify us as His Son’s disciples.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!’”
- Jesus, to the disciples (Matthew 25:34)

Teaching His disciples about the future Day of Judgment, Jesus spoke of people being separated into two groups before His throne. The King will turn to those on His right and declare that the moment has come in which they can inherit the kingdom prepared for God’s children.

From the outset of creation, God had always intended to have loving, close fellowship with His creatures. Six times, He declared the world to be “good” and then “very good” after He breathed into human beings the “breath of life.” As the crowning achievement of God’s glorious creation, Adam and Eve enjoyed warm fellowship with the Creator God whose image they bore.

When Adam and Eve sinned, evil was unleashed upon God’s good creation. Due to their disobedience, they were exiled from the Garden and later experienced physical death. But God so loved the world that He provided the means of redemption for His fallen creatures, by sending His only Son to take the weight of the world’s evil and sin on His shoulders and face a criminal’s death. Then, rising triumphantly from the grave, the Son defeated death and accomplished God’s plan of salvation.

Now, we see Jesus as the King, on His rightful throne, welcoming into His kingdom all those who have trusted Him as Savior and Lord. Jesus paints the picture of a Kingdom that is ready and waiting, prepared for God’s children. He tells those on His right to inherit this kingdom – not only to see and enjoy it, but to take part in it, to become heirs of the world to come.

For the Christian, the future kingdom is filled with endless possibilities and exciting ventures. We are promised a Kingdom that will be, in some sense, ours. Christians will not only live and serve in the coming Kingdom; we will reign together with our Lord.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

For the next several Mondays, we will be looking at the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 25, specifically the scene of the Last Judgment, when the Son of Man judges all nations. 

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then he will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.”
- Jesus, to the disciples (Matthew 25:31-33)

Jesus spoke of the coming Day of Judgment by comparing people to sheep and goats. In first-century Palestine, sheep and goats often intermingled during the day. But at night, the animals would have to be separated. Here, the one doing the separating is Jesus Himself, the Son of Man.

As the story unfolds, the nations are brought before the throne of Jesus. But nations do not face God’s judgment together. Jesus proceeds to separate the individual people one from another, putting some on His right and others on His left.

Every human being who has ever lived will stand one day before God. Before His throne, there is no middle ground, no separate section for the “good intentioned” or “sincere.” You are either on one side of Jesus or the other. Jesus sees only sheep and goats, no mutations in between.

Today, many Christians shy away from speaking of God as the Judge, perhaps because many preachers have manipulatively abused the imagery of judgment to force people to act a certain way. Aside from the religious rhetoric, though, judgment is the profound cry of the human race. When we hear of a father abusing his daughter, the governmental injustice endured daily by Christians in persecuted lands, or the evil attack of a terrorist, something deep within our soul longs for God to bring His justice to our world. This is, after all, what judgment means: God’s justice being pronounced and put into effect.

The problem is, the sin we would judge in others is present in our own hearts. Even the most honorable individual would still be unjust compared to God. That is why we must place our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross in order to have our sins pardoned. Only those who have pledged their allegiance to the King will be able to stand to the right of His throne.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog