Matthew 25:31-46
The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All 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. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"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. 35For 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, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"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. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I 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.'
44"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?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Matthew 19:28-30
The Last Will Be First
28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
At the Day of Renewal things will change...That is when Jesus will return and sit on His glorious throne...The disciples will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel...Many of Jesus teachings need interpretation and some very difficult to understand...This Parable on the Sheep and Goats is straightforward...It is about being kind and being merciful...
Jesus shows His heart, His justice, His kindness, and His mercy in speaking of those who are last...He puts it another way and calls the last, the least of these...These are those who have suffered, hungered, and not done so well on earth...The unwelcome stranger, the ones who have hungered, those without clothes were helped with being clothed, those in prison who were never visited, and those who were sick will find mercy...In the final judgment on Judgment Day, the least will be given justice and the first, powerful, and famous will be given justice...
Jesus defines righteous living and a righteous life as those who are kind and helpful to others...He defines an unrighteous life as those who neglected those in need, when they could have helped...We are to show kindness, be merciful, and help protect those who cannot help themselves...