The Least of These预览

How should we then live in treating others?

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.’ Matthew 25:37-40

The entire story is in Matthew 25:31-46.

During Jesus’ entire ministry here on earth, He never once said anything negative toward the poor, the downtrodden, the disabled, or women (who were not considered first-class citizens). He treated all of them with dignity and compassion. He often healed their diseases, met their needs, and forgave their sins. The only people Jesus spoke strongly against were the hypocritical religious leaders who thought they were really something special and treated everyone else with arrogance and condescension. To read the most scathing words Jesus ever used, see Matthew 13:13-29.

God does not want to see anyone mistreated, especially when they are helpless or lack power. God said in Isaiah 10:1-2,

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.

So, moving forward, let us follow Hebrews 12:2-3,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In Matthew 5:3-12, Jesus said we are blessed (happy and to be envied) if we are poor in spirit, when we mourn, are meek, are merciful, have pure hearts, are peacemakers, are persecuted or insulted. This is counterintuitive in today’s world, but Jesus only spoke the truth because, as He said in John 14:6,

I am the way, the truth, and the life.

In Matthew 10:42, He said,

if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

When we recognize that everyone is made in God’s image and therefore has great value, we will treat them that way. James said in 1:27,

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Paul in 1 Timothy 5:3 said,

Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.

We want to always do everything we can to help those who can’t help themselves.

Reflection: The more we realize how much God loves us and values us, the easier it is to love others the same way. John the Baptist, who introduced Jesus as He began His ministry, had it right when he said in John 3:30,

He must become greater; I must become less.

Humility goes a long way in God’s kingdom!