This sermon explores Jesus' judgment, the contrast between the righteous and unrighteous, and the reasons for their eternal destinies based on their actions towards the needy. Key
Good morning, dear beloved. Isn't it a wonderful day that the Lord has made? A day filled to the brim with His grace and mercy, a day in which we can gather together, in His name, to bask in His word. Today, we are here to ponder upon a passage that brings to light the profound teachings of our Savior, a passage that shines a beacon on the path of righteousness, and a passage that unveils the heart of divine justice.
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "When you see a man with a great deal of religion displayed in his shop window, you may depend upon it, he keeps a very small stock of it within." This quote, my dear friends, will resonate with us as we navigate through the sermon today.
Let's turn our hearts and minds to the words of the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25, verses 31-46: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 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.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those 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.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.'"
In the passage we've read, we see Jesus, in His majestic glory, seated on a throne. This is not an ordinary scene, but a depiction of a future event. A time when Jesus will return, not as a humble servant, but as a reigning King. It's a time of judgment, a time of reckoning, a time when all nations will be gathered before Him.
The image of Jesus as a judge may seem daunting. We often prefer to think of Him as a loving shepherd, a compassionate healer, or a wise teacher. Yet, here He is, presiding over the ultimate court. His judgment is not based on hearsay or circumstantial evidence, but on the truth of our actions and the authenticity of our love for Him and for others.
In this scene, Jesus is not alone. He is accompanied by all the angels. This is a grand assembly, a cosmic gathering. It's a momentous event that involves not just humanity, but the entire celestial realm. The presence of the angels underscores the gravity and the magnitude of this event. It's a solemn reminder that our lives here on earth have eternal implications.
The first aspect we see here is the universal scope of this judgment. "All the nations will be gathered before him," the passage says. No one is exempt. Every person from every tribe, every tongue, every nation will stand before Jesus. This is a sobering truth. It reminds us that our actions, our choices, our lives matter. We are accountable to Jesus, the righteous judge.
Next is the basis of this judgment. Jesus separates the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep are those who have shown love and kindness to the "least of these." They have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, and visited the prisoners. They have loved their neighbors as themselves. On the other hand, the goats are those who have ignored the needs of the "least of these." They have lived for themselves, indifferent to the suffering around them.
This is a powerful reminder that our faith in Jesus must be accompanied by deeds of love and mercy. It's not enough to profess faith. We must also practice it. We must live it out in our daily interactions, in our choices, in our priorities. We must love not just in word, but in deed and in truth.
The third aspect is the finality of this judgment. Those who have loved the "least of these" are invited to inherit the kingdom prepared for them since the creation of the world. They are rewarded with eternal life. Those who have ignored the "least of these" are sent away to eternal punishment. This is a stark contrast. It's a clear reminder that our choices here on earth have eternal consequences.
Finally is the personal nature of this judgment. Jesus says, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." He identifies with the "least of these." He feels their hunger, their thirst, their loneliness, their pain. When we serve them, we serve Jesus. When we ignore them, we ignore Jesus.
This is a profound truth. It challenges us to see Jesus in the faces of the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten. It calls us to love and serve them, not out of duty, but out of love for Jesus. It invites us to see every act of kindness, every gesture of love, every moment of service as an opportunity to love and serve Jesus. In this text, we see a glimpse of the future. A future where Jesus will judge all nations. A future where our actions and choices will be brought to light. A future where our love for Jesus and for others will be rewarded. It's a future that calls us to live with purpose, with compassion, with love. It's a future that beckons us to follow Jesus, to serve the "least of these," to inherit the kingdom prepared for us since the creation of the world.
The imagery of sheep and goats is not a random choice ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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