How interesting that Jesus associates our response to “the least of these” with our response to him.
In the past, I always thought it was a matter of obedience. People who really love Jesus take care of the down-and-outs, because it’s the right thing to do. The Christian thing to do. Because the Bible tells us to do it.
But what if it’s more than that? What if it’s another “camel fitting through the eye of a needle” thing?
What if it’s all about our heart, after all?
What does our response to “the least of these” tell us about the state of our heart, and whether it’s fertile soil for what Jesus wants to sow there?
Are we prideful? When we think of people in prison, are we unforgiving and vengeful? Do we think we’ve earned the good things we enjoy, but believe the less fortunate are “leeching off society,” and don’t deserve our assistance?
Are we fearful? Do we avert our eyes from the homeless person on the street, or the emotionally-needy person in our church, to avoid uncomfortable interactions?
Are we self-absorbed? If we’re “too busy” to visit our grandma in the hospital, to go and sit with the sick and the shut-ins, how are we going to find the time to sit at Jesus’ feet?
Are we selfish? Are we hoarding our resources for personal comfort, character be damned?
What sort of heart is open to the least of these? And how do I develop one?
Because that is the sort of heart that is open to Jesus.
Prideful, fearful, self-absorbed and selfish. Yes, these are the very core items Christ wishes to invade in our lives, then we can see and love the poor. You can’t help it! I like how you’ve brought it back to the core. Altruistic intentions will never last, but a heart changed will produce lasting fruit. Awesome Jenny
Thanks Connie!
I think the sheep/goat parable is one of the ways Jesus puts flesh on the greatest and second-greatest commandments. In that parable he conflates loving God and loving others in situations his followers probably never imagined. (What are you saying, Jesus? You mean God’s in jail?!)
Those commandments and his comments to the sheep and the goats also have to be understood in light of Romans 8:1 – God never condemns those he has given to his Son. That’s why I agree with you that this is a heart issue, and one that is given to us not only for the benefit of those who are sick, imprisoned, etc., but for our own benefit too. It’s about growing in God as he works in us. (Philippians 1:6.)
Tim
I think the context of this parable, and the others in Matthew 25, is interesting as well. They come right after Jesus says the temple will be destroyed, and right before the religious leaders begin plotting to kill him. There is definitely a theme of faithfulness and unfaithfulness going on here.
Jen, right after I posted that comment I had an experience with a guy in a wheelchair that goes to this issue. Wrote about it today on the blog.