Compassionate Action: Serving Others = Serving Jesus — October 24 [Description]Overview of Matthew 25:31-46 (The Sheep and the Goats):This passage is a parable Jesus tells about the final judgment. He describes the Son of Man (Jesus Himself) returning in glory and separating people into two groups—the sheep on His right and the goats on His left—based on how they treated others, especially the vulnerable.The sheep, who are welcomed into eternal life, are those who fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed strangers, clothed the naked, cared for the sick, and visited prisoners. Jesus says that whatever they did for “the least of these,” they did for Him.The goats, who are sent away into eternal punishment, are those who neglected to do those things, and thus failed to serve Christ Himself.Key Point: This passage makes it clear that genuine faith is shown through compassionate action. Jesus identifies Himself with the marginalized and needy, and serving them is the same as serving Him. It’s a direct call to live out love in visible, practical ways.

Bible discovery

Matthew 25:31-46365D 297.1

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the ^{[c]NU omits holy} holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.365D 297.2

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.365D 297.3

33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.365D 297.4

34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:365D 297.5

35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;365D 297.6

36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’365D 297.7

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?365D 297.8

38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?365D 297.9

39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’365D 297.10

40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’365D 297.11

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:365D 297.12

42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;365D 297.13

43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’365D 297.14

44 “Then they also will answer ^{[d]NU, M omit Him} Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’365D 297.15

45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’365D 297.16

46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”365D 297.17