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. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
The righteous people that Jesus talks to in this story are beautifully unaware that they were doing things for and to Jesus. As readers of these words, we can, out of religious inclinations, seek out those that we feel are needy and help them. Our good deeds for “the least of these” are offered in hopes that Jesus receives them unto Himself. Sadly, and I have been guilty of this, we can see helping people in need as placing a deposit in an eternal bank account from which we will one day receive a return.
The hearers of the words of Jesus in this story did not have the luxury of first reading about it like we do. They were caught by surprise that the ways in which they were helping the needy could impact Christ at all. At the time of Jesus, visiting people in prison was unthinkable. Most wanted to stay as far away from prisons as possible.* This act of love was done for others, but Jesus says that it was done unto Him.
The purity of their service came from a genuine care and love for others. Jesus is not just looking for good works done for those who need them; He is looking for hearts that want to see and help “the least of these.”
Do our hearts ache for the poor? Do we cry when we see the pain in other’s eyes. Does compassion propel us to pray for healing when we see a woman bent over in pain? Does our heart for these people inspire us act?
I think back on a time when I would categorize myself as “the least of these.” Maybe you can too? The Kingdom of God is full of “the least of these.”* They are the ones who Jesus sought out. Finding the fancy and the famous and serving them comes quite naturally.* Seeing the invisible ones and meeting their silent needs even when it’s unpopular does not.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to see the unseen for the purpose of reaching out. Perhaps God wants you to remember when you were “the least of these,” and allow Him to increase your compassion to new depths. Maybe God wants you to abandon efforts of serving to be seen.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 633–641, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 25:31–46).) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).