JESUS RECEIVES OUR ACTS OF KINDNESS AS IF DONE FOR HIM
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The apostle Matthew shares a glimpse of the end times in his gospel. The scene is the Final Judgment. Jesus, our Great Shepherd and King, has come in His glorious power accompanied by all the angels. He is seated on His heavenly throne, ready to judge all the nations gathered before Him. He separates the righteous from the unrighteous, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats…
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.’ – Matthew 25:34-36
The righteous, His beloved, loyal sheep, question Him. When did they ever help Him in these many ways? He replies…
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me. – Matthew 25:40
The King turns to the goats on His left…
Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me. – Matthew 25:41-43
The unrighteous goats, those who rejected His love and grace, question Him. When did they ever fail to help Him in so many ways? He replies…
Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me. – Matthew 25:45
The final judgment has been decided. The destiny of the righteous, the ones who touched lives with the King’s love and mercy, is eternal life in His presence. The fate of the unrighteous, the ones who failed to extend love, is eternal punishment, forever separated from His glorious presence.
I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me. – John 10:14
Believers are united with Christ. Whatever touches His own touches Him. Any act of grace, however small, done for those He loves is as if done for Him. Whatever kindness we offer to the least of His… the lowly, the suffering, the marginalized, the impoverished, is received as rendered to Him. By contrast, whatever graciousness we fail to give, is as an affront to Him and His boundless love and mercy.
Anyone who welcomes you welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. – Matthew 10:40
Jesus is here sending His twelve apostles out into the world, granting them authority to heal all who are sick and to deliver all who are oppressed. He warns them that they will be like lambs among wolves… yet promises that their needs will be met. For anyone who welcomes His chosen apostles will be welcoming Himself and the Father.
Today, the challenge to us as believers is to see Christ in everyone we encounter… and to treat others as if they were Jesus. Daily, we have opportunities to express His love to a hurting world with His passion and commitment. Our kind acts become acts of worship… fruits of our faith and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is My disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward. – Matthew 10:42
A simple cup of cold water offered to a weary traveler in a hot, arid climate was a welcome refreshment. Jesus shares that even small acts of kindness done for His followers will bless the giver. No loving deed offered in His name goes unnoticed or unremembered by our Lord. All have eternal significance in His eyes.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water in My name, just because you belong to Me, will surely be rewarded. – Mark 9:41
Sharing the compassion of Christ by even humble deeds of goodwill is faith in action. It fulfills His command to love our neighbors as ourselves. How we treat others is a measure of our love for our Lord. Any labor of love shown to those who are loved by Him mirrors His generous grace and mercy to the world.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. – Hebrews 13:2
In the Old Testament, Abraham and Lot both showed kindness to strangers who proved to be angelic messengers. Even the travelers to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus walking with them, illuminating the prophecies of Scripture. Our actions on earth can have unseen, heavenly purposes.
Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which He looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which He blesses all the world. – St. Teresa of Ávila
Jesus no longer walks this earth. Believers are called to be a living reflection of Him today. We are to be His hands to minister with mercy… His feet to spread the good news… and His heart to share His love and compassion. One simple act of grace may seem of little meaning or significance in the world. Yet it may mean the world to one troubled soul.
† Eternal Takeaway – Our acts of grace done in the name of Jesus have eternal significance †
