I Got This

The Least of these

Matthew 25:37–40 ESV

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you 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?’ 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.’

It is right and good that the historic churches of Jesus have been known for acts of kindness and charity, but the specific least of these is referring to active, participating members of a local church.

Recall that Christ regards His people; His Church as His bride. He is jealous over her. This is the further completion of God’s promise:

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

The individual Christian should be local church focused because the NT teaches us to be so, and because our Lord has been focused on His bride since before we were born

The nature of a goat

Mark 12:30–31 ESV

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

John 13:35 ESV

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Matthew 25:44–46 ESV

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?’ 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.”

While grace must be extended, we clearly see that there is a distinction being made using the picture of sheep and goats; each having their own nature. One nature we inherited from Adam. The other is only received by believers when they are born again.

I Got This

God is the seeker - Eze 34::11-12

John 6:44 ESV

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

God is both rescuer and judge - Eze 34:13-16

Romans 3:25–26 ESV

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

God keeps His sheep - Eze 34:15

John 6:39 ESV

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.