There are moments in our study of the Scripture where the Holy Spirit opens up the Scriptures to you and shows you the truth of that particular Scripture and the Scriptures in a brand new way, at least, a brand new way to you! That’s what happened to me as I studied and meditated on this text for Sunday. This Sunday, we’re wrapping up our Tomorrowland series by looking at the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46.
Now, I should explain. Most people, when they read this parable, their understanding of it hinges on the phrase that Jesus speaks in 25:40: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Most people understand this to be a teaching of Jesus about how we should help the poor, feed the hungry, visit those in jail, and sit by the sick. And, indeed, these are things that love for our neighbor compels and constrains us to do. Indeed, read what the apostle James has to say about helping to poor, the widow, and the orphan.
But I do not anymore believe that is what Jesus is teaching here (I won’t blame you if you disagree with me). Consider what Jesus calls these people. He calls them “these brothers and sisters of mine.” Now, where in all of the Scripture, does a person become the family of Jesus simply by being poor? In all of Scripture, where does someone become a brother or sister of Jesus simply because they were naked or hungry? Jesus does not even consider someone family merely because they share the same genealogical blood. No, people become the brothers and sisters of Jesus by believing in him. People who hold to his Word and believe it; they are his brothers and sisters. But people who reject his Word and reject his messengers and who persecute his church; those people are not his brothers and sisters.
See, Jesus is speaking to his church as they live in the end days. They would be persecuted. They would be mistreated. His disciples and apostles would be imprisoned and jailed and left hungry and naked. Indeed, as the church (including us!) goes out with the message of Jesus, not all will receive us. And for our comfort, Jesus says, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me, but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16). Some people will reject and mistreat us. And when they do, Jesus takes it personally, and he will come to our defense on the last day.
Other people (the church militant) will receive us into their homes. They will visit us in jail as they visited Paul when he was imprisoned. They will support each other in famine and hunger as the Corinthians churches did for Jerusalem churches. The family of Jesus will support one another, and to them, Jesus says, “Whatever you did for the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it for me.” The church, the family of faith, rallies together as we live and wait for Jesus to return. What we do for each other, this, Jesus says, we do for him.
Jesus wants to bolster and encourage his church with this final great teaching in the book of Matthew. Jesus is on your side as you wait for him. And he cares for you and supports you through his church. You are not alone in your waiting for him. Your church stands with you. Your church will support you and pray for you. If you are sick, we will visit you. If you are hungry, we will do what we can to feed you. We will do this for you because, in Christ, we’re family. More than that, your brother Jesus has your back.
I can’t wait to open up this Scripture with more this weekend as the Spirit has opened it up to me. He has given birth in me a powerful and comforting truth for us as we wait for him.
Pastor Nate
We would love to have you worship with us this weekend
Saturday at 5:30 pm.
Sunday at 9:30 am.
You can also worship with us online on Sundays at 9:30 am. (YouTube.com/c/MtLebanonChurch)
For all other news and notes, check out this week’s “The Mount Weekly.”