The Least of These

“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 25:40-

Jesus tells a story in Matthew 25 that haunts me from time to time. Though it follows a string of parables, this story is not one. It’s a straightforward depiction of what will take place when Jesus comes back again.
On that day, Jesus will separate everybody in the world into two groups — the righteous “sheep” on His right and the wicked “goats” on His left. He’ll tell them two slightly different versions of the same story. To the sheep: When I was hungry and thirsty, you fed me. When I was a stranger, you were hospitable and invited me into your house. When I needed some clothes, you gave me a couple of shirts and a nice pair of pants. That time I was sick? You nursed me back to health. That time I was put in prison? You showed up during visiting hours.
Those listening will be more than a little confused. “When did we see you like this?” they’ll ask. “We never knew you were hungry or thirsty. When did we see you a stranger or without clothes? We don’t remember you being sick or in prison and coming to visit you. When did we meet these needs? The sheep wait for an answer, scratching their heads and exchanging puzzled looks.
Finally, Jesus breaks the silence and replies: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). This crowd smiles and exhales in unison. Then Jesus rewards them with a blessing — an inheritance in His kingdom.
But to those on His left, He gives a scathing rebuke: I was hungry & thirsty, and you couldn’t even scrounge up any leftovers. I was a stranger, and you looked right past me. I didn’t have any clothes, and you couldn’t find anything to spare out of your overflowing closets. I was sick, and you turned a blind eye. I was in prison, and you just wrote me off as someone else’s problem.
The goats squirm nervously. They too respond, in an almost defensive, desperate tone: “We never saw you like that . . . did we? When did that happen ? When did we not meet your needs? If only we’d known it was You!”
And Jesus replies: “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me” (Matthew 25:45). Then the goats are sent away for eternal punishment.
It’s a simple story making an obvious point. You and I will have opportunities to see Jesus; you are probably realizing now that you already have. Maybe you saw him today as you drove to work. Maybe he keeps to himself in the cubicle just down the row from you. Maybe he lives next door to you. Maybe you read about his arrest in the paper.
So, when you see him, will you recognize him? And perhaps more important, will you respond by serving him?

Pursuing Today
The application is clear. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to serve “the least of these.” Ignore the excuses that pull at you (“He’ll probably spend my money on alcohol,” “She got herself into this mess,” “He’s just really difficult to love”). Serve. Give. Love. For Christ’s sake, don’t miss your opportunity.