The passage from Matthew 25:31-46 describes Jesus telling a parable about God separating people into sheep and goats on Judgment Day. The sheep are those who cared for "the least of these brothers and sisters" by feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting the imprisoned. The goats are those who did not provide such care. Jesus says that by caring for others in need, one cares for Jesus himself. The sheep will inherit the kingdom, while the goats face eternal punishment.

1. Matthew 25:31-46

2. Matthew 25:31-46 (New Living Translation) "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. [32] All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. [34] Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

3. Matthew 25:31-46 (New Living Translation) [35] For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. [36] I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' [37] "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

4. Matthew 25:31-46 (New Living Translation) [38] Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? [39] When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' [40] And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' [41] "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons!

5. Matthew 25:31-46 (New Living Translation) [42] For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. [43] I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' [44] "Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?'

6. Matthew 25:31-46 (New Living Translation) [45] And he will answer, 'I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' [46] And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."

7. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR OUR LORD SAY “ Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

8. ● While evangelism is a major interest of the church…Jesus insists that we take care of one another. ● Too often the wounded, weary and wayward are left to themselves…through carelessness or inattention. ● Jesus makes it exceedingly clear that Christians are expected to bind up wounds, visit the hurting and give loving care to our forever family. What’s so hard about that? ● All of this means keeping an eye out for one another, looking for signs of fatigue, low energy, absences and discouragement. In short…seeing people as God sees them.

13. The Parable of Ten Virgins Moral of the Story Don’t be presumptuous. Be prepared for a soon return of Christ or a delay.

14. The Parable of Money “ Again, it will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.”

16. The Parable of Money Moral of the Story Use what you have to help the kingdom grow or expect dire consequences.

17. TODAY’S STORY…ARE YOU A SHEEP OR A GOAT? MATTHEW 25: 31-46 “ When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory…He will separate the people one from the other as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.”

19. THE SHEEP SEEM SURPRISED… WHEN DID WE DO ALL OF THAT TO YOU??? JESUS’ ANSWER: “AS YOU DID TO THE LEAST TO ONE OF THESE BROTHERS OF MINE YOU DID TO ME!” THEN THE STORY OF THE GOATS! THEY DIDN’T TEND TO JESUS. THEY DIDN’T TEND TO “ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS OF MINE”. AND THEIR FATE? “ DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO ARE CURSED, INTO THE ETERNAL FIRE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS. I WAS HUNGRY, THIRSTY, NAKED…AND YOU DID NOT HELP ME.” TODAY’S STORY…ARE YOU A SHEEP OR A GOAT?

20. Remembering how the bread is given even to us ‘Gentile dogs’. We are all included by Faith.

21. I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

23. TODAY’S STORY…ARE YOU A SHEEP OR A GOAT? MATTHEW 25: 31-46 Moral of the teaching? We show love to Jesus when we show love to one of ‘the least of his brothers/sisters’.

24. THIS IS CERTAINLY A MAJOR TEACHING ABOUT LEADING A ‘PREPARED’ LIFE. There seems to be concentric circles of responsibility. Romans 8:28 …Everything works together for the good to those that (#1) Love God 1 Tim. 5:8 (NLT) But those who won't care for their own relatives, (#2) especially those living in the same household , have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers. Galatians 6:10 (NLT) Whenever we have the opportunity, (#4) we should do good to everyone, (#3) especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

26. “ You have heard it said: Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Matthew 5:43, 44 IT IS NOT A MATTER OF “EITHER-OR” …WE ARE TO LOVE EVERYBODY

27. JESUS’ TEACHING IN MATTHEW 25 IS THIS SORT OF LOVE…LOVE FOR THE LEAST OF KINGDOM PEOPLE

28. JESUS’ TEACHING IN MATTHEW 25 IS THIS SORT OF LOVE …LOVE FOR THE LEAST OF KINGDOM PEOPLE

30. Sharing food, clothing, money, shelter, goods …time! TAKING THE STEP TO BE OF HELP …AFTER ALL, IT IS A WAY OF SHOWING LOVE TO JESUS!

31. “… Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Philippians 2:2-5 WE ARE TAUGHT TO CONSIDER OTHERS AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OURSELVES

32. JESUS’ TEACHING ABOUT BEING ATTENTIVE TO OTHERS ASSUMES THAT WE KNOW EACH OTHER, INQUIRE OF EACH OTHER’S NEEDS AND ARE WILLING TO SHARE FROM OUR STORE HOUSE OF LOVE, TIME AND GOODS TO BENEFIT OTHERS…EVEN THOSE CONSIDERED ‘LEAST’ PEOPLE.

33. Returning to God out of our abundance. A gift of thanks.

36. PRAYER & PRAISE

38. ● While evangelism is a major interest of the church…Jesus insists that we take care of one another. ● Too often the wounded, weary and wayward are left to themselves…through carelessness or inattention. ● Jesus makes it exceedingly clear that Christians are expected to bind up wounds, visit the hurting and give loving care to our forever family. What’s so hard about that? ● All of this means keeping an eye out for one another, looking for signs of fatigue, low energy, absences and discouragement. In short…seeing people as God sees them.