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Author: Stephen Weller
496 words, 3 minutes read time

Message to the Sheep

Scripture: Matthew 25:34-40

In the previous lesson we witnessed the separation of all living people on earth, at the time of the return of the Son of Man, into two groups described as sheep and goats; saved and unsaved. In this lesson we will hear what the King says to the sheep; those on his right.

^{Mt 25:34} Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

The King, who is the Son of Man, is seated upon the throne (verse 31), has something to say to the group on his right which are the sheep. To this group of spiritually alive believers in Christ, who are blessed by his Father, he invites them to come and inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world.

King Jesus then expresses thanks to them for what they did for him. He speaks of being provided food when he was hungry, something to drink when thirsty, welcomed as a stranger, gave clothing when needed, visited him when sick and when in prison. To this expression of thanks, there is a response.

^{Mt 25:37} Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

The righteous are puzzled because they can’t recall ever doing these things personally to or for Jesus. They want to know what he means.

^{Mt 25:40} And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

The King’s answer to help clarify what he meant was, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Next the King addresses the group on his left, those who are unsaved and described as goats, but you will have to wait for the next lesson to learn what he says to them.

Conclusion

If the King, the Son of Man, where to return now which group would you find yourself in; the sheep or the goats? Have you come to Jesus Christ to seek forgiveness, to be born again, and to receive the gift of eternal life? If not, now is the time.