Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus is coming back, and we don’t know when. Will you be ready when he does?
For most people, questions like this sound crazy. But the writers of the New Testament believed that Jesus was going to return to Earth one day because that is what Jesus himself told them (John 14:3) and it is what 2 angels reminded them when they saw Jesus ascend to heaven (Acts 1:11).
Now in Matthew 25 Jesus has just finished telling two parables (stories) about his return. In the first story (verses 1-13) Jesus says that we should be ready for his return and not be like 5 bridesmaids who didn’t have enough oil in their lamps when the groom returned, and they were stuck shopping for more oil instead of hanging out with the groom. Then, in the second story (verses 14-30), Jesus teaches that we should make the most of our time on earth because we don’t know when Jesus will return.
Now (in verses 31-46), Jesus teaches about what will happen when he comes back to earth. He says there will be a judgment between the sheep and the goats. This is a judgement of the Gentile nations to see who will enter into the Millennial Kingdom. Judgement will be made on the basis on how the nations treated the Jewish people during the tribulation period. What is amazing about this is that Jesus says that when the nations take care of “his brother and sisters” they are really taking care of him! If the nations do not take care of “his brother and sisters” then they are not taking care of Jesus (verse 25).
It is tricky to think about who exactly will be involved in this sheep and goat judgement and who will enter the Millennial Kingdom. It is even more difficult to figure out if and when people will be glorified in the Millennial Kingdom. It is hard to wrap my brain around what it will look like when Heaven literally comes down to earth.
What is important to take from this passage is what God cares about. He is going to judge the world on how people took care of other people. When we take care of others we are taking care of Jesus. This is especially true in the context of the tribulation period where there will be a severe persecution against the Jewish People and taking a stand to care for them will be very unpopular and very risky. But we can apply this principle to many people in our world today. Who is it unpopular to help? Who is it risky to step into their world?
Who is someone that you can show love to that might make people wonder why you are doing what you are doing? When you take time to love others, you are doing what God wants you to do. This action should be an outward indication of the change God has made in your heart.