Matthew 25:41-46 - Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, 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?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

In this passage from Matthew 25, Jesus teaches about the final judgment, where all nations will be gathered before Him and He will separate them as a shepherd separates sheep and goats. He will welcome those on His right into eternal life, commending them for serving Him by caring for those in need. But those on His left, who failed to serve Him by serving the least, He condemns to eternal punishment prepared for the devil and his angels. Both groups are surprised, not remembering seeing Jesus Himself hungry, thirsty, as a stranger, naked, sick or in prison. But He explains that any act of service or refusal to serve even the least of His brothers and sisters was an act of service or refusal to serve Him. He identifies Himself closely with those in need and counts any act of mercy towards them as mercy towards Himself. The passage teaches us that Jesus cares deeply for those in need and counts any lack of mercy shown to them as a lack of mercy towards Him. It also shows there are eternal consequences - eternal punishment or eternal life - based on how we treat those in need around us.

This passage is incredibly convicting, even disturbing. None of us can claim we have perfectly served Jesus by perfectly serving all those in need around us. We have all fallen short. But that cannot be an excuse for hard-heartedness, for refusing to see Jesus in the poor and desperate. If we take His words seriously, we must see every human need as an opportunity to serve Jesus Himself. And the consequences are dire for those who refuse to serve. Jesus makes clear that the punishment is eternal. There are debates on the nature of hell and exactly what the punishment consists of. But what is clear is that it involves separation from God and everything good, because of rebellious self-centeredness. C.S. Lewis described hell as a state where self is all one has left. Yet for those who serve the least - who take Jesus' words to heart and care for any in need they encounter - there is the promise of eternal blessedness in God's kingdom. The contrast is stark and should spur us to compassionate action.

Lord Jesus, this passage shows me clearly that when I fail to serve those in need, I fail to serve You. Convict me when I am indifferent or make excuses. Give me eyes to see You in the poor, the oppressed, the imprisoned. Help me to give freely, to love unconditionally. Make me a channel of Your mercy and a means of welcoming others into Your eternal kingdom. Amen.