Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “I was an hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me.” Jesus continued, “Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungry, and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you drink? When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you? Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came unto you?”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse forty of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus said, “the King shall answer and say unto them … as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren” where we read:
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.
The verse reads, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, ...” Matthew began with Jesus' words, “and the King” which means “and the leader of the people, the prince, commander and lord of the land” “shall answer” or “will respond” “and say unto them” which means “and utter, declare and proclaim to His disciples”, “Verily” or “truly and surely” “I say” which means “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims” “unto you” or “to His disciples”. Matthew shared how Jesus as the “King” will respond to His disciples with the following statement.
The verse goes on to say, “... Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” Matthew continued with Jesus' word, “Inasmuch as” which means “in the same likeness and manner like” “you have done it” which means “the disciples performed, produced, constructed and formed their services” “unto one of the least of these” or “to a certain smallest ones of the people who are hungry, thirsty, a stranger, sick or in prison” “my brethren” which refers to “Jesus' fellow believers who are united to another by the bond of affection” “you have done it unto me” which means “the disciples have performed, produced, constructed and formed their services to Jesus”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared the disciples who minister to the “smallest” or “less in rank, estimation and excellence” of people are doing so unto Him.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the ministry to others who are in want and need is actually to ministry to Jesus Himself. Jesus relates to people in need, and when His disciples minister to others' needs, they minister to Him. God knows mankind is in need of a “Savior and Lord”, and in order for them to receive “everlasting life” without “hunger, thirst, nakedness, sickness or prison”, they must yield their lives to Him. Let all who read these words receive God's plan of “salvation” today, and “serve” Him by serving others who are in need.
Next time Matthew writes how Jesus shares how the King will say, “unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
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