Scripture/Sermon of the Day.  January 4, 2026

Matthew 25:31-46

The Judgment of the Nations

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”

Reflection:

I.  Matthew 25:31-46 — the manifesto for the Christian religion.

This is the lectionary reading chosen for the New Year.  Sometimes people like to look back over the past year and do kind of an examination.  And hope that the next year will be a good one.  Some make resolutions or goals for the new year.

II. Jesus was close to a big day in his life when he gave this parable of the sheep and the goats.  It was almost time for his last day on earth, the day of his execution.  So in simple and clear language, he described a “Christian.”

III. There were times — years ago — when people visited this church for the first time, church-shopping, and would ask, “What does this church believe?”

And I’d give various answers.  We believe in Jesus.  The Apostles Creed.  The Lord’s Prayer.  But now, after years of talking and thinking about it — I should probably have just said:  “We believe if someone’s thirsty, give them something to drink.”  That’s our religion in a few words.  If someone needs a listening ear — be that.  Jesus said visit someone in prison.  Give clothing and food and welcome?

IV. I think what is most interesting about this reading today — Jesus’ Last Will And Testament— is what he didn’t say.

He didn’t say we must have faith.

He didn’t say we must believe he died for our sin.

He didn’t say we must believe in the resurrection — or that he is Lord.

Jesus didn’t say we have to believe that God made the world in 6 literal days.

He didn’t tell us to believe that at one time a man named Noah really lived and he built this giant boat called an Ark that he loaded with animals.  According to Jesus — we don’t need to believe that Noah’s Ark is anything more than a story, a myth.

Jesus didn’t say we have to believe that the Bible is the literal word of God — or that the only true version is the King James.

Jesus didn’t tell us we had to call ourselves Christian — and he didn’t tell us that OUR religion is superior to others.

V. Jesus said we will be judged on how well we serve — take care of — are kind to — other people.

He didn’t say only white people.  

He didn’t say only people who are citizens.

He didn’t say only people who are like us — or even that we have to like them.

VI.  A follower of Jesus — a Christian — is someone who seeks to love others by serving them, and being kind, as we are able.