Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these

STATEMENT:

Feed the hungry, clothe the needy, visit the sick, welcome the stranger, help the less fortunate. (Jesus words, Matt 25:35-40.) I’ve always thought it curious that Jesus makes the distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous based on this criteria. Curiously missing is “confessing and believing”, having correct theology, “sinners prayer”, etc. In fact, according to this passage some people will have been doing these things without even knowing Jesus or that they were doing it for him.

ANSWER:

The passage you quote in Matt 25 will occur throughout the 7-year Tribulation. It does not apply today because Jews are not the chosen and preeminent nation during this grace dispensation. In actual fact, both Jew and Gentile are equal in God’s eyes today, so feeding, clothing, visiting the sick and in prison, etc, of the Jews does not have the salvific value as it will in the Trib.

The reason why it has such great value in the Trib is because the Jews once again at this time would be God’s special nation. The Jews will be going through the worst time in their history and if any Gentile people support them during the persecutions of the Trib., it is worthy enough to bring salvation to those Gentiles, come the Sheep and Goats judgement at the end of the 7-years.

Consider WW2 and accounts of people harbouring Jews in hiding from the Germans. They put their lives on the line for those Jews. Well, in the same way, under many times more persecution and danger, people could lose their lives doing this; hence the great reward when Christ returns to judge the world at that time.

Those who supported the Jews will be the saved sheep or Christ’s right. Those who do not support them will be the goats on Christ’s left who are cast into the fire.

Concerning your curiosity about the gospel message during the Trib, it changes twice. If you read Revelation, it is the Kingdom gospel that is preached during the first half of the Trib. At this time, Gentiles will need to be proselyte and get saved under the Kingdom gospel criteria, which is repent, get water baptized and filled with the Spirit (just like in early Acts). At the halfway point, entering the Great Trib. the Kingdom gospel gives way to a very simplified ‘eternal gospel’, preached by an angel of the Lord.

Rev 14:6-7 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (7) Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Note: The gospel is not repent, get baptized, get filled with the Spirit. No. It is simply, “Fear God, give Him glory, and worship Him!”. No ordinances, no cross, no repentance. Just worship God and give Him glory. I’ll tell you, doing that (ie: proclaiming Israel’s God during the Great Trib. is like signing your death warrant.) You will probably be martyred for your confession. But —that will save a person in the end!

So, what Jesus was teaching in Matt 24 and Matt 25 is all about the tribulation. If you read the chapters with this context, it will make a LOT more sense to you and add a lot of setting to the passage.