Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 Vs. 45

 The Final Judgment

Matthew 25:45 “Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.”

Then shall he... With a stern countenance, in great resentment, as one highly offended, and with the authority of a judge. Saying, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not unto me. Since they had given no food not to the least of his brethren and friends that stood at his right hand, no not to anyone of them.

Not so much as the least bit of bread to them when hungry, or a drop of water to them when thirsty. They had not taken them into their houses, nor provided any lodging for them, when they were exposed in the streets to the inclemency of the weather, and insults of men.

Nor gave them the least rag to cover them, when they were almost naked, and ready to perish. Nor did they minister to their wants, either physical, or food, or give attendance, when on sick beds, and in prison houses. Therefore, he reckoned this neglect of them, and want of compassion to them, all one as if he himself in person had been so treated.

And if then judgment will righteously proceed against men for sins of omission, much more for sins of commission. And if such will be dealt with in this manner, who have taken no notice, and shown no respect to the members of Christ; what will the end be of those, who are injurious to them, their persons, and properties, and persecute and kill them?

Of course, anyone who saw Jesus in person would do all these things for Him. Jesus was speaking here, of the condition of this person’s heart. The heart will be judged even more than the deeds, because it is actually what a person is.

If someone in this kind of need cannot prick your heart, then you are definitely not right with God. We are responsible to help those who are before us, if they cannot help themselves. These are opportunities that come to see what we really are inside.

Philanthropy can never take the place of faith; and yet no words ever spoken or written on this earth have done so much for philanthropy as these. It were vain to attempt, in so brief a sketch, to bring out even in the way of suggestion the mingled majesty and pathos of the words of the King to the righteous, culminating in that great utterance which touches the very deepest springs of feeling and thrills every fibre of the pure and loving heart: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. Besides the pathos of the words, what depth of suggestion is there in the thought, as shedding light upon His claim to be the Son of man! As Son of God He is the King, seated on the throne of His glory: as Son of man He is identified with all His brethren, even with the least of them, and with each one of them all over all the world and through all the ages: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. How the divinity shines, how the humanity thrills, through these great words of the King!