Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples when they minister to people who are “hungry, thirsty, naked, sick and in prison”, they are serving Him. He said, “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto you?”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse forty-five of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these” where we read:
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.
The verse reads, “Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, ...” Matthew began with Jesus' word, “then” which means “at that time and moment” “shall he answer them” or “will Jesus respond and speak to the people on His left hand”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring or proclaiming” ,“verily” or “truly and surely” “I say” or “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims” “unto you” which refers to “the nations and people who are on His left hand”. Matthew shared how Jesus makes a true declaration in response to the people on His left hand's question.
The verse goes on to say, “... Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.” Matthew added Jesus' word, “Inasmuch as” which means “in the same way and manner” “you did it not” which means “the people on Jesus' left hand did not performed, produced, construct or form their services, minister or give service” “to one of the least of these” which means “to a certain smallest ones of the people who are hungry, thirsty, a stranger, sick or in prison”, “you did it not to me” or “the disciples have not performed, produced, constructed and formed their services to Jesus”. Matthew shared how Jesus said because the “cursed” people on His “left hand” did not serve other people, they actually neglected serving Him.
When we think through upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see once again the direct connection between Jesus and people who are in need. When the disciples of Jesus minister to people who are “hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison”, they serve Jesus Himself, and those who neglect others, neglect Jesus as well. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to save people from their “spiritual” poverty and need. He alone is able to “feed them, quench their thirst, invite them in to make them feel at home, heal their sickness and free them from their bonds”, and by “believing and trusting” in Jesus as “Savior and Lord”, their every need shall be met. Afterward, they are to share His “good news” with others both physically and spiritually so they too may have “hope and salvation” in Him. May all who read these words yield their lives to the only one who can “truly” satisfy their needs.
Next time Matthew writes how Jesus shares how, “these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal”, 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
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
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
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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