In Mat. 25:35-36, Jesus, in a parable referring to the future judgement (v31-33), says to the people who will be welcomed into God’s kingdom (v34):
…I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. [Mat. 25:35-36]
It is a rather odd was of speaking, isn’t it (the people in v37-38 think so, too)? With Jesus in heaven now, it’s not as if anyone could actually treat Jesus in this way. Jesus helps to clear our confusion in v40, where he says:
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ [Mat. 25:40]
So, to carry out Jesus’ teaching in v35-36, we need to be caring for the people in need around us (e.g., if someone is sick we need to comfort them and try to help them get well).
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