Bible Reading
Matthew 25:31-46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 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 something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited 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 take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘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 also say to those on the 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 didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’ Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
[30:20]Matthew 7:13-23 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!”
[33:13]Revelation 20:11-15 “Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
[32:27]Observation questions
- In Matthew 25, what scene surrounds the Son of Man when He comes, and who is gathered before His throne? [39:44]
- What specific needs are named in the King’s description of the compassion shown by the sheep?
- How do the sheep and the goats each respond when the King explains what they did—or did not do—for Him?
- In Matthew 7, what contrasts does Jesus give between the two gates, the two kinds of trees, and the people who call Him “Lord”?
Interpretation questions
- Why does Matthew 25 describe the sheep’s acts of mercy after calling them blessed and inviting them to inherit a kingdom prepared for them? What does this show about the relationship between salvation and compassionate action? [50:11]
- Jesus identifies Himself with “the least of these” among His brothers and sisters. What does this reveal about how seriously Christ takes the way His people are treated? [57:34]
- The goats are condemned not for claiming they never knew of need, but for seeing need and doing nothing. How can ongoing indifference expose a deeper rejection of Christ rather than simply a lack of kindness? [59:19]
- Matthew 7 warns that religious words and even impressive activity do not necessarily mean a person belongs to Christ. What kind of “fruit” would help reveal that someone truly knows the King?
Application questions
- Christ’s mercy leaves a mark on His people. Who in your everyday life may be hungry, lonely, overlooked, sick, burdened, or unable to repay help—and what is one practical way you could show them Christ’s compassion this week? [51:31]
- It is possible to stand near Christian activity, use Christian language, and still avoid truly trusting Christ. What helps you honestly examine whether you are depending on Christ Himself rather than your reputation, background, or good works? [33:25]
- Where do you most often feel tempted to pass by need without responding—at home, work, church, school, or in the community? What might a compassionate response look like that is wise, personal, and doable?
- Jesus gathers every nation before His throne, and every people group matters to Him. How can this shape the way you speak about people from different cultures, backgrounds, or nations? Is there a way you can grow in praying for or serving the nations? [40:47]
- Is there an area of your life where you have been resisting Christ’s rule, fighting His ways, or delaying obedience? What would repentance and renewed trust in the Good Shepherd look like there? [46:49]
- Christ must be known now as either Good Shepherd or righteous Judge. Who do you know that seems far from Christ, and how can the group pray for and lovingly pursue that person this week? [01:05:31]
