Today's Gospel message comes from Matthew 25:31-46, The separation of sheep and goats. In today's message, we find ourselves at the intersection of majesty and mercy, sovereignty and service, kingship and kinship. Our text takes us to a grand and awe-inspiring scene—the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, seated on His throne in heavenly glory, surrounded by all the nations of the earth.
This is no ordinary king. This is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. This is our Shepherd King, who not only rules with authority but also cares deeply for His flock.
As we delve into this rich and challenging passage, let us open our hearts and minds to receive the wisdom and truth that God has for us today. Let us reflect on the reality of Christ's kingship and what it means for how we live our lives and interact with those around us. For in this passage, Jesus turns our understanding of kingship and greatness upside down, showing us that to be great in His kingdom, we must become servants of all.
Let us revisit the text:
Lord, as we reflect on the powerful message of Matthew 25, we are reminded of your call to serve those in need, to see your face in the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Help us, Lord, to be your hands and feet in this world, reaching out in love and compassion to make a difference in the lives of those who are most vulnerable.
Open our hearts and minds to your Word today, and fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may be empowered to live as faithful citizens of your kingdom, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with you.
May our worship be pleasing to you, and may we bring honor and glory to your name, our King and our God, now and forevermore. Amen.
This is no ordinary king. This is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. This is our Shepherd King, who not only rules with authority but also cares deeply for His flock.
As we delve into this rich and challenging passage, let us open our hearts and minds to receive the wisdom and truth that God has for us today. Let us reflect on the reality of Christ's kingship and what it means for how we live our lives and interact with those around us. For in this passage, Jesus turns our understanding of kingship and greatness upside down, showing us that to be great in His kingdom, we must become servants of all.
Let us revisit the text:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.Gracious and Almighty God, as we gather together on this Christ the King Sunday, we stand in awe of your majesty and grace. On this day, we celebrate Jesus as our Sovereign Lord, the Shepherd who will gather all nations and separate the sheep from the goats.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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 invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46, NIV)
Lord, as we reflect on the powerful message of Matthew 25, we are reminded of your call to serve those in need, to see your face in the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Help us, Lord, to be your hands and feet in this world, reaching out in love and compassion to make a difference in the lives of those who are most vulnerable.
Open our hearts and minds to your Word today, and fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may be empowered to live as faithful citizens of your kingdom, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with you.
May our worship be pleasing to you, and may we bring honor and glory to your name, our King and our God, now and forevermore. Amen.
“The Final Judgment:
A Call to Compassionate Action”
by Kenny Sallee, ThM
by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Introduction:
Today, on this Christ the King Sunday, we turn our attention to Matthew 25:31-46, a powerful passage that depicts the final judgment and presents a profound truth about the nature of Christ's kingship and our responsibility as His followers.
Today's passage gives us a vivid picture of the final judgment, where the Son of Man, Jesus, sits on His glorious throne, and all the nations are gathered before Him. This passage is often referred to as the Parable of the Sheep and Goats, and it provides a clear message about what it means to live in God's kingdom.
A Closer Look:
Let me take you to a scene that Jesus paints for us. Imagine you're standing in a vast, open field. The sky is filled with a brilliant light as Jesus descends from heaven, seated on a magnificent throne. All around you are people from every nation and tribe, standing in awe of the majesty before them.
In this vivid imagery, we see the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, seated on His throne in all His glory, surrounded by angels. He is the ultimate judge, the sovereign king who will decide the fate of all humanity. This scene emphasizes the authority and majesty of Christ as King.
As Jesus sits on His throne, He begins to separate the people on His right and on His left, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
But what is the basis for His judgment? What distinguishes the sheep from the goats? The answer is found in the following verses.
The Separation:
To those on His right, the sheep, He says, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."
Why are these people called blessed? What have they done to inherit the kingdom of God? Jesus explains that they fed Him when He was hungry, gave Him drink when He was thirsty, welcomed Him when He was a stranger, clothed Him when He was naked, looked after Him when He was sick, and visited Him when He was in prison.
Here, the King commends the righteous, symbolized by the sheep on His right, for their acts of compassion and mercy. They are invited to inherit the kingdom because they have demonstrated the love and grace that characterizes God's kingdom.
But the righteous are confused. They don't remember ever doing these things for Jesus. So, they ask, "When did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick, or in prison?"
Jesus responds, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
This is the key to understanding the passage. The acts of compassion and mercy shown to those in need are not just good deeds; they are acts of service to Christ Himself. In serving the least of these, we serve Christ the King.
Warning:
Why are these people called blessed? What have they done to inherit the kingdom of God? Jesus explains that they fed Him when He was hungry, gave Him drink when He was thirsty, welcomed Him when He was a stranger, clothed Him when He was naked, looked after Him when He was sick, and visited Him when He was in prison.
Here, the King commends the righteous, symbolized by the sheep on His right, for their acts of compassion and mercy. They are invited to inherit the kingdom because they have demonstrated the love and grace that characterizes God's kingdom.
But the righteous are confused. They don't remember ever doing these things for Jesus. So, they ask, "When did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick, or in prison?"
Jesus responds, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
This is the key to understanding the passage. The acts of compassion and mercy shown to those in need are not just good deeds; they are acts of service to Christ Himself. In serving the least of these, we serve Christ the King.
Warning:
But there is also a warning for those who fail to show compassion and mercy. To the goats on His left, the King says, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
What had these people done to deserve such a fate? They failed to feed Jesus when He was hungry, give Him drink when He was thirsty, welcome Him when He was a stranger, clothe Him when He was naked, look after Him when He was sick, and visit Him when He was in prison.
The unrighteous are condemned because they failed to show compassion and mercy. They don't remember ever seeing Jesus in need and not helping Him. They, too, are surprised and ask, "When did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick, or in prison?"
But Jesus responds, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
What had these people done to deserve such a fate? They failed to feed Jesus when He was hungry, give Him drink when He was thirsty, welcome Him when He was a stranger, clothe Him when He was naked, look after Him when He was sick, and visit Him when He was in prison.
The unrighteous are condemned because they failed to show compassion and mercy. They don't remember ever seeing Jesus in need and not helping Him. They, too, are surprised and ask, "When did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick, or in prison?"
But Jesus responds, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
The message of this parable is clear. As followers of Christ, we are called to love and serve others, particularly those who are in need. When we do, it's as if we are loving and serving Jesus Himself. But if we neglect the needs of those around us, it's as if we are neglecting Jesus Himself.
Reflection:
This passage challenges us to reflect on how we are living out our faith. Are we living in a way that reflects the values of God's kingdom? Are we showing compassion and mercy to those in need?
Conclusion:
Reflection:
This passage challenges us to reflect on how we are living out our faith. Are we living in a way that reflects the values of God's kingdom? Are we showing compassion and mercy to those in need?
Conclusion:
As we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, let us remember that our King is not a distant, unapproachable ruler, but a King who identifies with the least of these. He is a King who calls us to love and serve others in His name, knowing that in doing so, we are loving and serving Him. Let us go forth from this place, committed to living out our faith in tangible ways, serving others as if we are serving Christ our King.
Prayer:
Sovereign Lord, our King and our Shepherd, we stand in awe of your majesty and your mercy. As we reflect on your words in Matthew 25, we are struck by the powerful image of you sitting on your throne, separating the sheep from the goats.
Lord, we long to be counted among the sheep, those who have shown your love and compassion to those in need. We confess that too often we have failed to see you in the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner. Forgive us, Lord, for our indifference and our inaction.
On this Christ the King Sunday, we recommit ourselves to serving you by serving others. Help us to see the opportunities you place before us every day to be your hands and feet in the world. Give us the courage to step out in faith, to reach out in love, and to make a difference in the lives of those who are in need.
As we go forth from this place, may we be inspired by the example of our King, who came not to be served, but to serve. May we follow in your footsteps, bringing hope, healing, and wholeness to a world in need. And may we do so until that glorious day when you return in triumph, and we hear you say, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."
In your holy and majestic name, we pray. Amen.
Prayer:
Sovereign Lord, our King and our Shepherd, we stand in awe of your majesty and your mercy. As we reflect on your words in Matthew 25, we are struck by the powerful image of you sitting on your throne, separating the sheep from the goats.
Lord, we long to be counted among the sheep, those who have shown your love and compassion to those in need. We confess that too often we have failed to see you in the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner. Forgive us, Lord, for our indifference and our inaction.
On this Christ the King Sunday, we recommit ourselves to serving you by serving others. Help us to see the opportunities you place before us every day to be your hands and feet in the world. Give us the courage to step out in faith, to reach out in love, and to make a difference in the lives of those who are in need.
As we go forth from this place, may we be inspired by the example of our King, who came not to be served, but to serve. May we follow in your footsteps, bringing hope, healing, and wholeness to a world in need. And may we do so until that glorious day when you return in triumph, and we hear you say, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."
In your holy and majestic name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Gospel message by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
In today's message, we find ourselves at the intersection of majesty and mercy, sovereignty and service, kingship and kinship. Our text takes us to a grand and awe-inspiring scene—the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, seated on His throne in heavenly glory, surrounded by all the nations of the earth.
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