Matthew 25:40 -- Do you believe it?

Question

"And in reply the king will say to them, ‘Truly I say to YOU, To the extent that YOU did it to one of the least of these my brothers, YOU did it to me.’ "

Jesus has the sheep and the goats gathered before him. Some of the sheep are surprised to have been counted worthy. Jesus tells them they did good deeds -- simple acts of human kindness. They did it indiscriminately since they didn't know they'd done it to "Christ's brothers."

What does that do to your particular brand of Christianity? Jesus didn't say those sheep were only his followers. Do you believe that scripture?

Answer 1

i don't know if you have that word for word or not but sure it all sounds good. sure help people all people help the poor pick up hitch hikers . i have been one recently and i really think it would be better for a person to be killed by a crazy hitch hiker then to pass one by.
i pick them up unless i can see they have an Axe or a gun .

Answer 2

In his next parable, Jesus did more than urge his followers to be vigilant. After telling of the wise and the foolish virgins, he related the illustration of the talents. (Read Matthew 25:14-30.) In many respects this resembles his earlier parable of the minas, which Jesus gave because many “were imagining that the kingdom of God was going to display itself instantly.”—Luke 19:11-27. In the parable of the talents, Jesus told of a man who, prior to making a journey abroad, summoned three slaves. To one he committed five talents, to another two, and to the last just one—“to each one according to his own ability.” Likely, this meant a silver talent, a standard amount then worth what a laborer would earn in 14 years—a lot of money! When the man returned, he had the slaves account for what they did during the “long time” that he was away. The first two slaves had doubled the value of what was entrusted to them. He said “well done,” promised each one more responsibility, and concluded: “Enter into the joy of your master.” Claiming that the master was extremely demanding, the slave with one talent had not put the talent to any profitable use. He hid the money, not even depositing it with bankers to earn interest. The master termed him “wicked and sluggish” because he had worked against his master’s interests. Consequently, the talent was taken from him, and he was put outside “where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth” would be.

Again, details of this can be understood in a symbolic sense. For example, Jesus, pictured by the man traveling abroad, would leave his disciples, go to heaven, and wait a long time until he received kingly power. (Psalm 110:1-4; Acts 2:34-36; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 10:12, 13) Again, though, we can perceive a broader lesson or principle that all of us ought to apply in our lives. What is that? Whether our hope is that of immortal life in heaven or of everlasting life on a paradise earth, it is clear from Jesus’ parable that we should be exerting ourselves in Christian activities. In fact, the message of this parable can be summed up in a word: diligence. The apostles set the pattern from Pentecost 33 C.E. onward. We read: “With many other words [Peter] bore thorough witness and kept exhorting them, saying: ‘Get saved from this crooked generation.’” (Acts 2:40-42) And what excellent returns he had on his efforts! As others joined the apostles in the Christian preaching work, they too were diligent, with the good news “increasing in all the world.”—Colossians 1:3-6, 23; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9.

Bear in mind the context of this parable—a prophecy about Jesus’ presence. We have ample confirmation that Jesus’ pa·rou·si′a is in progress and will soon reach a climax. Recall the connection Jesus made between “the end” and the work Christians need to do: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) With this in mind, which sort of slave do we resemble? Ask yourself: ‘Would there be reason to conclude that I am like the slave who hid what was entrusted to him, perhaps while he took care of his own personal concerns? Or is it clear that I am like those who were good and faithful? Am I totally committed to increasing the Master’s interests on every occasion?’

Answer 3

yes he is saying if you show kindness to others you are showing kindness to Him

if you show unkindness to others you are showing the same to Him

you could use any word

just like the statement do unto others as you would have done to you .......

well as the God is Above all ,and Jesus is my saviour BRAND ,, it says have respect for others,be nice ,do not judge others , be kind and help those who really truely need it and need encouragement and maybe just simple kindness

then also when in return someone is treating you badly ,,, remember that they are not following a christian way or attitude and you simply don't have to show evil back, because,,, the both stand before one judge at that very moment. Remembering God has the hand on which to choose right and wrong and who is being treated fairly at all times
everything is seen . To be kind and true to others is wonderful,, plus its just plain good for there heart and mind. when one person can do one unselfish act or deed or anything for another person that could use it or needs it without expecting anything in return it makes there heart at ease it helps them.... they feel better and it goes on and on

Answer 4

Yes, I do believe this scripture because I have worked in the Clark County Detention Center and I have been homeless. And I realized that in the jails and among the homeless there are people who have accepted Christ, but they are struggling Christians and some are backsliders. So sometime we come across people who are in distressed situations and minister to them not realizing they belonged to God. This helped me understand even more why wrath breaks out of city which mistreat the poor, because some of those poor and homeless are Christians.

Answer 5

I think that speaks about the spiritual condition of the heart and believers not really doing things unto the Lord but to build their kingdom while on earth. You actually taking the verse out of context because you not including the previous verses which are important.

Answer 6

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lays down his life for another."

Someone jumps in front of a car and pushes you to safety. You live they die, saved or not they just did the deed you questioned.

Yes I believe, you never know who that person is that you are doing the good deed for so I say do it for all Like Christ did for us.

Answer 7

As scripture? No.

But I believe that the main message Jesus tried to impart was that we should treat each other as we would like to be treated; that we should help all of our fellow man as much as possible.

Somehow Christianity seems to have lost that.

Answer 8

Matthew 24 & 25 are not written to Christians, they are written to israel and apply to the tribulation period. It is the kingdom that is being talked about not the church.

Answer 9

You forgot to mention the rest of the scripture....the ones who showed no charity and did his way were cast into hell.

Answer 10

No. I am an atheist, and I don't believe a vast majority of what the Bible says.