Jesus Does Not Wait for Them to Ask Why; He Explains

2015-05-31 Faith Talk

Last week we read of the day coming when Jesus will judge the world. We only read the first half of the account though. We read how Jesus will divide the people into two halves and speak first to the righteous. Jesus in His account, when they asked why they were there, told them they were there because they had ministered to His needs and equated ministering to “the least of these My brethren” to ministering to His needs. Read the account of judgment for those who chose to not minister to Jesus’ needs when they could.

Read Matthew 25:41 (NKJV)
41Then 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:

Consider: The final judgment has no appeal; it is absolute and final. The final judgment for those who choose to disobey and disregard Jesus, and refuse to accept Jesus as Lord is everlasting. First those who refuse Jesus are told to depart. They are commanded leave His presence…forever. Those who choose to disregard Jesus in life and refuse to obey His commands are forever cursed. Those who choose to ignore what Jesus did for them on the cross are cast into everlasting fire.

There is no mistaking the final destiny of all those who do not accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Jesus is very clear here. Their final fate is to be cast into everlasting fire.

Jesus does not wait for them to ask why; He explains:

Read Matthew25:42-43 (NKJV)42for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
43I 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.'

Notice: Jesus described the same scenarios He used to explain the same opportunities of service He gave the righteous as He explained why the cursed were forever condemned. The only difference between the righteous and the cursed is accepting Jesus and following in obedient service. Jesus, in His judgment passage, is saying every one of us has the same opportunity to minister, to serve, and to obey and use our gifts to help those we see in need. Some choose to use what they have been given in His service, some do not. Some choose to see the needs around them and meet those needs, some do not. Some are obedient, some are not. Some are rewarded, some are condemned. The everlasting destiny of each soul is based on their choice. Everyone has a choice to make. Everyone choosesto obey, to minister, to serve and to obey Jesus as Lord, or they choose not.

The cursed like the righteous asked “When”.

Read Matthew 25:44 (NKJV)44Then they also will answer Him,[4]NU-Text and M-Text omit 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?'

Notice:Just like the Righteous asked When did we see You?The cursed did, too. They wondered when and how they missed their opportunities to serve. They lived their lives in the same surroundings as the Righteous did, they had the same opportunities to serve as the Righteous did, they had the same invitations to accept Jesus as their Lord as the Righteous did, but they chose to ignore all that and chose their own paths instead.

Discuss: How often do we see opportunities to serve we easily recognize as opportunities to serve Jesus in obedience? How often do our lives, busy schedules, or other distractions cause us to choose to NOT minister to these the least of our brethren? How many opportunities do we take advantage of? How many opportunities do we miss?

Read Matthew 25:45-46 (NKJV)
45Then 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.'
46And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Notice: Jesus made it clear to the Righteous and to the cursed: inasmuch as you did (or did not do)it to one of the least of these, you did (or did not do)it to Me.'

Notice: Notice the word “Everlasting”. Jesus used the word to describe fire and punishment in His condemnation of those who chose to not minister to those they saw in need around them.

Challenge: Consider the finality of the word Everlasting as it relates to punishment of fire for all eternity. Consider the choices our friends have while they live that they will no longer have when they stand before Jesus. Choose today to encourage a friend to choose Jesus.

Remember, you can love Jesus only as much as you love the one you love the least.

Love,

Tom