Looking out for the Left out

Looking Out for the Left Out!!

Matt. 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31–46 NKJV

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 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 take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, 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, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch 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 everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Jesus is sitting with his disciples on the Mount of Olives after leaving the temple in Chapter. 24:1. He prophetically shares that the temple will be destroyed not one stone will be upon the other. He then deals with the Kingdom of God. It is in this discourse that he shares

He shares about the

Tarrying down of the Temple

Waiting For the King

1. A time of Apostasy (24:4–5, 11)

False Prophets/ False Messiah

2. A time of Anarchy (24:6–8): Wars will break out!

3. A time of Apathy (24:12–13): The love of many will grow cold.

4. A time of Affliction (24:9–10): Believers will be hated, betrayed, and killed.

5. A time of Accomplishment (24:14): The gospel will be preached to all nations[1]

He then gives 3 parables about what the Kingdom of God is also about.

The Ten Virgins 5 wise & 5 Foolish

Traveling Man with Talent!!

The Sheep & Goat

In this parable, Jesus helps us to understand the Holiness of Hospitality.

One thing that is important to understand from the outset is

Sheep & Goat have the Same Shepherd!!!

Wheat & Tear have the same Farmer!!!

He rains on the just as well as the unjust

He takes of the faithful and fools

Which almost makes it appear to be unjust.

How can a Just God be so benevolent to people who will stay around him but won’t surrender to him.

May I suggest to you this morning that one day!!

There is a clear delineation between Sheep and Goat.

Sheep and Goats eat in the same field. But the Don’t Feel the same way about the Shepherd.

There is a difference between Sheep & Goat

The sheep will be placed on His right hand and the goats on His left hand. The sheep represent genuine believers. They are …

• the ones who believe in Jesus

• the ones who are truly “born again”

• the “good and faithful” servants

• the “righteous”

• the ones who possess the fruit of the Spirit.

• the ones who “seek for glory and honor God through their God Work

• the ones who “work for the good of others”

Note that God sets the sheep at His right hand, the position of honor, glory, authority, acceptance, and favor.

The goats represent all unbelievers, those who never professed Christ and those who professed Christ but were not genuine believers. They are …

• the “unprofitable servants” (Mt. 25:30).

• the “wicked and slothful servants” (Mt. 25:26).

• the “cursed” (Mt. 25:41).

• the ones who “are contentious” (Ro. 2:8).

• the ones who “do not obey the truth” (Ro. 2:8).

• the ones who “obey unrighteousness & unlawful” (Ro. 2:8).

• the ones who “do evil” (Ro. 2:9).[2]

There is a difference between Sheep and Goat

Sheep Graze while, Goats Browse

Sheep like being with other Sheep, While Goats like being by themselves.

Sheep know they need the Shepherd,

Goats will go on without the Shepherd.

Vs 32. He will separate/divide

Vs. 33 Set them on the Right Side/ Pause for Station Identification.

Jesus is on the Right hand on the Father and I’m the Right Side next to Him

Then he says come inherit the Kingdom!!!

Pause Jesus for me to inherit the Kingdom

I must be will.

For the inheritance process to begin, a will must be submitted to probate. The probate court reviews the will, authorizes an executor and legally transfers assets to beneficiaries as outlined. Before the transfer, the executor will settle any of the deceased's remaining debts.

That’s how you gain your inheritance.

He Tells Us How to Get in the Will

You must Look out for the Left Out!!!

Here it is?

Howard Thurman in his book Jesus and disinherited

Jesus cares about the marginalized, ostrazized,

He cares about the least, lonely, and left out.

orphan, widow, single mother struggling, the student that stressed out. That person at a cross roads in their life.

If you want to receive and Inheritance you must embrace the disinherited.

I’ve got few folk in here.

That can say Pastor Cowan

I was hungry didn’t know where my next meal was coming from.

I was thirsty,

I was stranger, lost, lonely, and longing

I was in the hospital and I wasn’t fit to live, but not ready to die.

I was in prison, I went to jail, I messed up

Jesus Says

You fed me

You gave me drink

You took me in

You clothed me

You visited me when I was sick

You came to me when I was in prison

The Righteous asked When did we see you!!!

Doing Right is a part of Being Right

When did I see you fighting Hunger and Food Insecurities

When did I see struggling with Healthcare injustices

When did I see fighting against Gun Violence

When did I see you dealing with Climate Justice

When did I see taking on Voting Rights Issues

When did I see help that young woman get out of Human Trafficking

When did I help that young man get out of the Gang not get in prison pipe line

When did I see fight for equal pay for all

When did I fight for women to have say over their own bodies.

When did I see you fight for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

When did I see you fight for mental health

When did I see you not just go to church, but be the Church.

If you don’t Look Out for the Left Out, you will be Left Out

Everybody want to be

GOAT - Greatest of all Time

but I rather be the LAMB

Least among my Brothers

There is a story told about a pastor who had be called to a new church. Before his first Sunday, he decided to visit his new call, but he

him self as a beggar and panhandler and waited for his congregation to come. To his amazement people would not