LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY

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1 GET INTO THE STUDY 5 minutes DISCUSS: Draw attention to the picture (PSG, p. 134) as you introduce Question #1: What s the kindest thing someone has ever done for you? GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 135). Highlight the author s description of what makes a great community. Reinforce the importance of faith in finding hope by reading The Point (PSG, p. 135): Loving Jesus means personally helping those in need. PRAY: Begin the Bible study with prayer. Ask for God s wisdom in understanding His Word in this study. Thank Him for the blessing of neighborhoods and communities where we have opportunities to serve Him. SESSION 5 LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY The Point Loving Jesus means personally helping those in need. The Bible Meets Life Serving people who can benefit us is not difficult. Scratch my back, and I ll scratch yours is a reality in the business world and even in many relationships. Serving, then, becomes about me, and not about the other person. That mindset is absent in Scripture and is to be absent in the church; in fact, believers are called to serve even those who have no means to repay a kindness. The Passage Matthew 25:34-40 The Setting Jesus had been teaching His disciples about signs related to His second coming (Matt. 24:3-51). He then told two parables to encourage them to prepare for that day. The first was the parable of the 10 virgins (25:1-13); the second was the parable of the talents (vv ). Jesus also described a day when He would return in glory and reward His children for their attention to helping people in need (vv ). 138 Session 5

2 Matthew 25: Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me. Jesus described a day when He would come to reign as King and sit on His glorious throne (Matt. 25:31). He would gather the nations before Him and separate them one from another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats (vv ). In this week s session passage, Jesus highlighted the eternal reward His children would receive. We are surrounded by opportunities to meet basic human needs. 1 Verse 34. Homeless people often need food and shelter. Single mothers may need encouragement and support. Elderly adults appreciate home visits or a friendly hello from someone on the telephone. Some retirees need financial assistance, or perhaps they need someone to mow the lawn. Hospital patients often face uncertain times and appreciate someone stopping by to pray with them. Many youth lack a father or mother in their homes and need someone to fill that gap to some extent. Elementary children may need afterschool tutoring to help them succeed in school. One need not look too far in a community to see many needs, and God s people are often in a position to meet many of them. 2 From verses 31 and 34 we know the King is the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. During His earthly ministry, Jesus regularly used the term Son of Man to describe Himself (Matt. 16:28; Mark 10:45). In Revelation 19:16, however, the apostle John described Jesus at His second coming, calling Him King of kings and Lord of lords. All the nations would see His glory and splendor (Rev. 1:7). The prophet Isaiah also described Jesus ( stump of Jesse ) as ruling the nations one day (Isa. 11:1-10). STUDY THE BIBLE Matthew 25: SUMMARIZE: Before reading the passage, set the context by reading or summarizing the information in The Setting on page 138. READ: Read or ask a volunteer to read Matthew 25: SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 1 to highlight needs of the following people in your community: Homeless people Single mothers Elderly adults Retirees Hospital patients Youth 15 minutes Elementary children SAY: One need not look too far in a community to see many needs, and God s people are often in a position to meet many of them. SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 2 to explain the identity of the King in the parable. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF MAY

3 THE POINT Loving Jesus means personally helping those in need. GUIDE: Refer group members to PSG page 136. Jesus told a parable that takes us to the end of the story to help us see how we live out our identity as His followers. Jesus concluded His instruction with a picture of His second coming and all the nations coming before Him as He sits on the throne (25:31-32). As all the people gathered before Him, He separated them into two groups, describing it as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (v. 32). Jesus issued this invitation to the sheep because of how they treated Him and took care of Him. Jesus listed all the ways they met His needs. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 138): What modern circumstances come to mind when you read these verses? Verse 33 mentions Jesus placing the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Verse 34 then describes what Jesus would say to those on his right. In biblical times, the right hand was the position of favor. Even today, the expression right-hand man describes someone important to us. The word come is a command, but also a special exhortation or invitation. It is the word Jesus used to invite the disciples to come follow Him (Mark 1:17) and for the disciples to come and eat (John 21:12). The angel at the empty tomb also told the women to come see the place where Jesus body had lain (Matt. 28:6). The King described His sheep as you who are blessed by my Father. To have the Father s blessing meant one had the Son s blessing as well; Jesus often spoke of His oneness with the Father, both in nature and in purpose (John 5:17; 10:30). In fact, the oneness of purpose in the persons of the Trinity may be seen clearly in Paul s letter to the Ephesians. The Father planned our salvation (Eph. 1:3-6), the Son provided it by His death (v. 7), and the Holy Spirit applies it to our lives (vv ). The word translated inherit signifies the sheep were heirs to the great blessing they were about to receive. Typically an inheritance went to someone in the family (Prov. 19:14; Luke 15:12), so the term also suggests a close relationship. The word kingdom normally denotes God s rule or reign. During Jesus earthly ministry, He often spoke of God s kingdom having come (Matt. 4:17; Luke 17:20-21). Here, the term describes the place where God s rule is brought to its ultimate fulfillment. This glorious kingdom was prepared for God s children from the foundation of the world. The Scriptures often describe God s blessings of salvation as something He prepared for us before the world began (Eph. 1:4-5). God s children were in His mind from the beginning of creation! This truth is intended to bring us assurance; God will stop at nothing to see His salvation come to pass for His children. He has ordered our days (Ps. 139:16), and nothing can separate us from His love through Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:38-39). Jesus assured His followers that one day He, the coming King, would say these precious words to them. What greater words could there be than the invitation from the Son of God to spend eternity with Him? Verse 35. Verses describe various contexts in which the children of God served Jesus. First, Jesus said, I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. Jesus 140 Session 5

4 affirmed them for providing food to meet a basic need. They shared what they had with Him, thus putting His need ahead of their own. Second, Jesus said, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. In Bible times, as today, water was a precious resource. People did not enjoy running water in their homes; rather, they counted on springs, wells, or cisterns for water. From mid-april to at least September, no significant rain falls in Israel; consequently, water can become very scarce in late summer and early autumn. Jesus commended His followers for sharing water with Him when He thirsted. 3 Third, Jesus said, I was a stranger and you took me in. In the ancient world, hospitality was an important virtue and a natural expression of brotherly love (Heb. 13:1-2; 1 Pet. 4:8-9). People counted on the hospitality of family members, friends, or even strangers to care for them and provide for their basic needs as they traveled (Gen. 24:31-32; Luke 19:5-6). Hotels or motels were not common. Furthermore, some people might host fellow Israelites, but some might feel hesitant to host strangers, especially foreigners. Israelites might also feel hesitant to stay in a stranger s home (Judg. 19:11-12). During His time on earth, Jesus once said, The Son of Man has no place to lay his head (Luke 9:58). He commended those who showed gracious hospitality toward Him when He needed it. Verse 36. Jesus continued His commendation to His children with the words I was naked and you clothed me. Naked can mean without clothes, as we often understand this verse, but it also can mean the person was poorly dressed (Jas. 2:15, without clothes ) or lacked an outer garment (John 21:7, had taken it [outer garment] off ). Such a person would not normally appear in public this way, and would suffer from the cold in winter. Again, God s people sought to meet Jesus need and provided clothing for Him. Jesus words I was sick and you took care of me described yet another basic human need His people had met. People beset with various illnesses or diseases often have difficulty caring for themselves. Caring for sick people and attending to their needs including the need for companionship can provide encouragement to them during this time of difficulty. I remember a time when our entire family of five was sick with fever and flu and a woman from our church brought over a large pot of chicken soup and left it on our doorstep. Her kindness really ministered to us! Others today often find themselves caregivers to family members with debilitation illnesses. The care they provide lasts more than a few days; it may go on for week, months, or even years. GUIDE: Refer group members to PSG pages Jesus listed all the ways they met His needs. Don t consider this an exhaustive list, but together these needs represent what we all need to survive and have any quality of life: Hungry and thirsty A stranger Naked Sick In prison Jesus mentioned things that are essential to life: food, clothing, shelter, and health. Anyone can respond to these needs because they are so simple and basic. No special skills or education is required. When we see a need, we do what we can to help. SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 3 and the article Stranger: A Word Study, (p. 148, PSG, p. 144) to explain the term stranger. 141

5 THE POINT Loving Jesus means personally helping those in need. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 139): What keeps us from reaching out to those who need our help? (Alternate: What emotions do you experience when you encounter someone in need?) SAY: The Lord gives us many opportunities to meet basic human needs around us. Our churches can get involved with meeting needs and also ministering spiritually. We can share the gospel as we meet the needs of others. SUMMARIZE: Use Biblical Commentary 4 to suggest specific ministries your church may consider: feeding the poor ministering to the homeless prison ministry visiting nursing homes visiting patients in hospitals after-school programs TRANSITION: In the next verses, Jesus explained that when we serve others in need, we are serving Him. Finally, Jesus mentioned one more need: I was in prison and you visited me. Imprisoned people were cut off from earning a living and often faced difficult if not miserable conditions in prison. During the apostle Paul s imprisonment, he drew great comfort from those who visited him (2 Tim. 1:16-17; 4:11). He asked those to whom he wrote to remember to pray for him (Col. 4:3-4,18). Today, the university of which I am a part offers a two-year degree program at a local prison. When the inmates graduate, they serve as chaplains assistants in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Sadly, many inmates never receive a single outside visitor either family or friend during their time of incarceration. Jesus commended His followers for taking the time to make a prison visit. 4 The Lord gives us many opportunities to meet basic human needs around us. Our churches can get involved with feeding the poor and ministering to the homeless. We can begin prison ministry programs and visit people in nursing homes or hospitals. After-school programs for at-risk students may turn their lives around. As we meet basic human needs, we also may be able to minister spiritually. People will see our care for them and some will ask why we care so much. We then will have the opportunity to explain how we serve them in Jesus name; they matter to us because they matter to Him. As Christians, our goal should always be to move people into a relationship with Christ or into a deeper walk with Christ. Meeting basic human needs is one way we can begin to share Christ with others. To be sure, people need both their physical needs and their spiritual needs met; yet, these needs often go hand-in-hand. James told us our professed faith was of little value if we shut our eyes to the physical needs of others (Jas. 2:15-16). Ministering to others also means we may have to set aside our own self-interests. Someone has said, Ministry is messy, and this is often true. Ministry often means going out of our way to help others. Certainly it is not convenient to minister to the sick or to visit someone in a nursing home or prison. We may have to step out of our personal comfort zones to meet a need by engaging people in their context. Yet, the potential kingdom impact is great indeed. 142 Session 5

6 Matthew 25: Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you? 40 And the King will answer them, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Serving others is serving Jesus. 5 Verse 37. The word righteous describes a positive quality of life. As Christians, God calls us to display the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 6:13). The righteous had displayed their inner character with external deeds of ministry. Nonetheless, Jesus said they would answer Him somewhat bewilderedly on that day. They addressed Him as Lord, a title He clearly would deserve on that day! Their question when did we see you hungry and feed you? clearly indicated their lack of understanding. As far as they knew, Jesus had never presented Himself to them with a need for food. Likewise, the righteous could not recall when they had seen Jesus thirsty and given Him something to drink. It seemed to them that Jesus was commending them for acts of kindness they could not recall doing. Verse 38. Those at Jesus right hand continued their questions: when did we see you a stranger and take you in? Hospitality was a virtue they practiced; they had opened their homes to others, but they certainly could not remember hosting Jesus! They also could not recall a time when they had seen Jesus without clothes and taken the time to clothe Him. The word translated without clothes is the same word as in verse 36. Again, it does not necessarily describe nakedness as we understand it, but perhaps denotes someone in serious need of better clothes or warmer clothes (Jas. 2:15). Nonetheless, the righteous could not recall a time when they had so ministered to their Lord. STUDY THE BIBLE Matthew 25: minutes READ: Read or ask a volunteer to read Matthew 25:37-40 SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 5 to explain the word righteous. GUIDE: Refer group members to PSG page 140. To the surprise of the righteous, Jesus replied with the most powerful statement in this parable: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. OPTION: Display a pair of eye glasses. Talk about how glasses help us see correcting vision problems so that we can see in the best way possible. Jesus talked about the human needs of hunger, thirst, shelter, clothing, and imprisonment. Point out that people with these needs are all around us every day. Challenge group members to think of fresh ways to see these needs and then commit to helping meet the needs we see. 143

7 THE POINT Loving Jesus means personally helping those in need. GUIDE: Refer group members to PSG page 140. The second half of the parable (vv ) is symmetrical with the first half, but the goats those on the left failed to do everything the righteous freely did. They showed a completely different attitude in their reactions to the situations on Jesus list. Surely to the horror of those whom He had placed on His left, the Lord answered, I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (vv ). DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 141): With so many needs in our community, how do we decide whom to help? SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 6 on this page and page 145 to explain the least of these brothers and sisters of mine. Verse 39. The righteous had as many questions for Jesus as He had commendations for them. They asked, when did we see you sick? The righteous did not know of a time they had ministered to the Lord in this manner, much less in prison. Indeed, Jesus spent no time in prison during His earthly ministry other than perhaps during the few hours He was under arrest before His crucifixion. Perhaps one of the reasons the righteous could not remember their service to Jesus is because service to others becomes second-nature to believers. Righteous believers keep no record of their good deeds because they are simply living in harmony with Jesus purpose for their lives, and they reflect His character by their actions. Did those Jesus commended regularly meet the needs of others in the ways He described? One has to believe they did. At the same time, their lives so mirrored the life of Jesus that they did not stop to think of all the good deeds they were doing. Verse 40. Jesus said that He, the King, would then answer His puzzled children. Again, Jesus royal title highlights His exalted position when He comes to judge the world (Phil. 2:11). The words truly I tell you include the word amen in the original Greek. The word comes from a Hebrew word that means to confirm or support. Many translations render it verily (KJV). Jesus words of assurance leave no doubt as to the truth of what He would communicate to His disciples. 6 Jesus assured His followers: whatever you did He had seen and blessed. The service they did was not spectacular, and they had not performed the service on behalf of someone great. They had not sought the world s attention for their actions so others would praise them (Matt. 6:1). Rather, Jesus described those they served as one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine. The expression least of these or similar expressions often characterize believers (Matt. 10:42; 18:6,10,14). Some interpreters believe the term might describe hurting or downtrodden people lacking in basic human needs. The righteous had served them without regard to the status of those they served and without regard to any reward they might receive. Sometimes people find it easy to look down upon those less fortunate than they are. They may wrongly assume that those who live at that level do so because of their own poor choices or because of mismanagement of their lives. Perhaps in some cases, people are indeed living with the 144 Session 5

8 consequences of poor or even sinful choices. However, Jesus did not call us to pass value judgments on people but to serve them. We often do not know why people are in the situations they are in. Nevertheless, we can be Jesus to them as we minister in Jesus name. He will receive the glory as we serve others. Jesus words you did for me again would have surprised His hearers. They had merely seen people in need and taken steps to meet those needs. They ministered freely out of what they had, sharing those resources meager or plentiful with others less fortunate than they were. As they did, they ministered to their Lord, who saw everything they did. He noticed when no one else did, and one day, He will provide them their reward their eternal reward. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus urged people to serve God without thought of reward, for God saw everything and would reward them at the appropriate time (6:2-4). We can fuel the spiritual growth of others when we love them and treat them as we would Jesus. However, we must never confuse the gospel of Jesus Christ as meaning merely meeting the physical needs of others. Some have referred to this kind of ministry as the social gospel. Indeed, meeting the basic needs of others is a noble task; however, it falls short of God s highest purpose for us as we carry out our respective ministries. Providing the basic needs of others provides us a platform to share the gospel with them. On the other hand, if we are unwilling to share the physical blessings God has given us with others, why should they listen to us about a God we claim to worship who we affirm loves them as well? We need to remember that loving Jesus means personally helping those in need. Serving others also means putting the needs of others above our own (Phil. 2:3-4). As we do, we will be able to engage better the community we are trying to reach. People in need will naturally be drawn to loving Christians who care for them. They also may be drawn to the Savior who cares even more for them. As you reflect on this week s study, consider what intentional steps you and your church might take to meet the needs of others. Ask the Lord to lay on your hearts particular ministry opportunities. A caring spirit can go a long way toward opening hearts to receive Jesus. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 142): What is something we will do as a group to serve Jesus by serving the least of these? (Alternate: What can we do as a group to meet the needs of people in our church?). LEADER PACK: Point to Item 12: How is Our Church Serving These People? Ask a volunteer to read the elements of the poster aloud. DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to the activity on PSG page 142: Helping Those In Need. OPTION: IN ADVANCE, invite someone in your church who is involved in ministry to the least of these or someone from a local community ministry to speak to the group about opportunities to serve in your neighborhood or community. 145

9 THE POINT Loving Jesus means personally helping those in need. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: Loving Jesus means personally helping those in need. REVIEW: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 143; see text to the right). Encourage each group member to follow through this week with at least one of the applications. LIVE IT OUT The identity of a Christian is wrapped up in Jesus. Who we are in Christ is seen in how we relate to other people. When we serve others, we are serving Jim. What can you do this week to serve Jesus by serving others? > > Start small. You will see someone who needs help this week. Step in and help, without making a judgment call about whether or not he or she deserves help. > > Work together. As a group, identify a need in your group or church and create a strategy for helping that person or family through whatever hardship they are facing. > > Get involved. Look into the ways your church serves and ministers to those in need both inside the church family and outside. Invest your time and energies in working in one of those ministries. WRAP IT UP GUIDE: Emphasize the importance of demonstrating love both to those inside and those outside of the church. PRAY: Father, help us to love others and serve them just as we would serve Jesus. NOTE: Remind members that PSG pages 8-11 are there so that they may keep an ongoing prayer journal of one another s requests. 146 Session 5

10 A vineyard at Lachish. Some 50 verses in Matthew refer to the kingdom of heaven. Almost without exception, the phrase occurs in a saying of Jesus. Many of Jesus statements descriptive of the kingdom occurred in the context of parables. In the parables the kingdom is described variously as wheat growing up with weeds in it (Matt. 13:24-30), a tiny seed becoming a large plant (vv ), leaven in flour (v. 33), treasure hidden in a field (v. 44), fish caught in a net (vv ), laborers sent to work in a vineyard (20:1-16), a king who gave a marriage feast (22:2-14), wise and foolish maidens (25:1-13), and a man who gave money to his servants to invest during his absence (vv ). Although we may not want to make definitive statements about the kingdom based only on these parables, we can comment: 1. While the righteous and unrighteous may coexist in the present, a separation will take place between them, with the former attaining the kingdom and the latter being excluded. 2. While the kingdom seems to be insignificant in its beginning, it will have great significance in its consummation. 3. Attaining the kingdom is worth more than all that a person may possess. 4. Those who would attain the kingdom would do well to make careful preparation during the time before its consummation. 5. Those in the kingdom will be accountable for how they live their earthly lives. The excerpt above is from the article Matthew s Use of Kingdom of Heaven (Winter ), which relates to this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS We inherit our place in the Kingdom of God prepared for us by Jesus (John 14:1-3) when we trust in Him for our salvation and serve those who are in need. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog. LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry 147

11 STRANGER: A WORD STUDY BY HAL LANE Jesus prediction of His judgment of the nations in Matthew 25:31 46 is one of the most dramatic warnings in the New Testament. The prediction is not a parable but contains metaphorical images that were common to parables (use of sheep and goats to symbolize those judged). The identification of this future event is a matter of disagreement among biblical interpreters. While our primary purpose is to focus on the meaning of stranger (Greek, xenos) in Matthew 25:35,38,43,44, a discussion of the identification of this judgment will be necessary. We will study the background of the Greek word in secular Greek culture, its use in the Septuagint (second-century b.c. Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament), and its use by New Testament writers. We will seek to understand how Jesus hearers would understand the term and explore its significance for Christians today. 148 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

12 Early Understanding and Practice The basic meaning of xenos from the earliest Greek usage is stranger or alien. The word is used from the perspective of someone in a defined community and refers to someone outside that community (stranger). People s attitudes toward these outsiders were mixed. Some expressed fear and hostility toward strangers. However, Homer and other Greek writers warned that some strangers might be sent by the gods and thus were to be treated with respect. At least officially the mistreatment of strangers was considered a sign of barbarity. Greek and later Roman societies developed a cultural virtue of hospitality (Greek, philoxenia, love of strangers ) based not on fear but concern for outsiders. Xenos occurs 21 times in the Septuagint primarily to translate the Hebrew word nokriy. The text uses the Greek root synonymously with several other Greek words that different English versions of Scripture translate as aliens, sojourners, foreigners, and strangers. The primary distinctions of the stranger from the Old Testament perspective were racial and religious. Strangers were not Israelites and thus not heirs to the covenant promises Abraham and his descendants received. The stranger, however, was protected by the Mosaic law (Ex. 22:21) and was expected to observe certain prohibitions in the law such as Sabbath observances (23:12). Aliens were given certain rights, and Israelites were commanded to love them in remembrance of their own history as strangers in Egypt (Gen. 15:13; Deut. 10:19). Not only was kindness to strangers a reminder of their history in Egypt, but the Jews had another reason for being gracious to those they did not know. The Jews... believed that angels in disguise were sent to determine whether people were obeying the law of hospitality. People were certain the angels were sent to Abraham for this purpose (Gen. 18:2 8) and also to Gideon (Judg. 6:11 12). Hospitality was thus a valued practice in Old Testament society and was to be extended to strangers. Not only was it a societal norm, but it also was an act of obedience to the Old Testament command to provide protection and provision for the aliens who lived among the people of Israel. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 149

13 Above: Identical rooms right beside the ancient road at Tiberias were likely part of a caravansary. New Testament Usage Xenos occurs 14 times in the New Testament; all 5 occurrences in the Gospels are in Matthew (4 in our focal passage in Matt. 25). God s exhortation to Israel in the Old Testament to treat Gentiles with kindness was based partly on the fact that the patriarchs lived as strangers in the land for generations. Hebrews 11:13 uses xenos to describe the status of the patriarchs and their families in the days before the conquest by Joshua. Paul used xenos specifically of Gentiles in Ephesians 2:12,19. He contrasted the Gentile believers relationship to the covenants of promise before and after receiving Christ as Savior. Before they were foreigners to the covenants (v. 12) and after faith in Christ they were fellow citizens with the saints (v. 19). Matthew 27:7 describes the use of the 30 pieces of silver that Judas returned in regret for betraying Jesus. Matthew recorded that the money was used to buy a potter s field used to bury strangers (xenois). From the perspective of those who were descendants of Abraham, Gentiles were strangers. We must now consider the meaning of stranger as Jesus used the term in describing the judgment of the nations. The first important observation is that this judgment is one of separation between the righteous and the cursed. The basis of the judgment is the treatment of individuals who were hungry, thirsty, without shelter, naked, sick, and in prison. Jesus described those in need as being the least of these my brethren (25:40). Jesus use of brethren to identify those helped implies they are believers. Although this passage is often applied to compassionate concern for those who are lost, Jesus emphasis is on concern shown for other followers of Christ. 150 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

14 As noted at the beginning of our study, stranger is a relative term depending on one s personal point of view. For the Israelite a stranger was a Gentile. In Greek and Roman society a stranger was someone outside their defined group. In the judgment of the nations, the perspective of the peoples of the world defines the meaning of stranger. The interpretation consistent with the evidence is that these strangers were believers outside the race or culture of those who either helped or refused to help them. Each stranger we encounter provides an opportunity to minister to him or her, and in doing so to minister to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Believers have questioned when this judgment will occur. Some interpret this as the final judgment determining salvation. The use of the criteria of works is explained as demonstrating the presence or absence of saving faith in Christ. Others interpret this judgment as a separation of the peoples of the world following the second coming to determine who will enter the millennial kingdom on earth (Rev. 20:1 6). The brethren of Jesus are identified as believing Jews who are assisted by the righteous (believing Gentiles) during the tribulation period. While the differing views of the timing of this judgment in biblical prophecy can be complicated, the virtue Jesus extolled is clear. Extending help toward those outside our circle of acquaintances is a Christian virtue that reveals the presence or absence of saving faith. Hospitality and assistance to strangers were characteristics of the faithful in the Old Testament and are godly virtues under the New Testament as well. The story Jesus told of the Samaritan who helped the man who had been beaten and robbed on the road to Jericho perhaps best illustrates the godly response to strangers in need (Luke 10:30 37). The social barriers that divide so many in our world must never be used as an excuse not to help the strangers we encounter. Each stranger we encounter provides an opportunity to minister to them, and in doing so to minister to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This article by Hal Lane originally appeared in the Fall 2007 issue of Biblical Illustrator magazine. Each quarter Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth articles and information that support our weekly Bible study lessons. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to com/biblicalillustrator, by using your church s quarterly literature order form, or by calling BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 151