Mar 5
Ben Stuart is back as we continue through 1 Thessalonians!
Ben Stuart shows us some of the major implications that the future coming of Jesus has for how we live and grieve in the present. Because of the resurrection, we have a confident hope that one day he will return and make things right!
Key Takeaway
The difference between Christians and the rest of the world is while we grieve, we grieve with hope.
We have hope—a confident expectation that good is coming our way—in tandem with grief.
We will beat death because He beat death.
He said He would see to it personally. He's not sending someone else.
“
"The Christian has confidence in the future anchored in a past reality."
”
Ben Stuart
Discussion Questions
Have you had a moment where you were most faced with your morality?
Do you feel comfort in knowing that you will be with Jesus at the end of your life?
How have you personally struggled with hope in this season?
Do you truly believe that we will beat death because He has beaten death?
How can we grieve with hope?
Scripture References
13.Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14.For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15.According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16.For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17.After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18.Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Paul Ashore on Malta
1.Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2.The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3.Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4.When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5.But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6.The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7.There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8.His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9.When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10.They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
Paul’s Arrival at Rome
11.After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12.We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13.From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14.There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15.The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16.When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard
17.Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18.They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19.The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20.For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
21.They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22.But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
23.They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24.Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25.They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26.“ ‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27.For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’28:27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
28.“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 29.28:29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.
30.For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31.He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
3.For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance15:3 Or you at the first: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4.that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5.and that he appeared to Cephas,15:5 That is, Peter and then to the Twelve. 6.After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
17.And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18.Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19.If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
30.
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth
24:30
Or
the
tribes of the land
will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.24:30 See Daniel 7:13-14. 31.And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
8.We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
21.For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22.If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23.I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager
1.Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2.So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
3.
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4.I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
5.
“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
6.
“ ‘Nine hundred gallons
16:6
Or about 3,000 liters
of olive oil,’ he replied.
“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’
7.
“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’
“ ‘A thousand bushels
16:7
Or about 30 tons
of wheat,’ he replied.
“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
8.
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9.I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
10.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11.So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12.And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
13.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
14.The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15.He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
Additional Teachings
16.
“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. 17.It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
18.
“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19.
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20.At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21.and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23.In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24.So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25.
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26.And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27.
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28.for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29.
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30.
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31.
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
9.When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10.They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11.Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10. were killed just as they had been.
1.For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2.Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3.because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4.For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5.Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
20.For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21.that8:20,21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.22.We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23.Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
8.Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
20.He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
28.so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel
1.You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2.Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3.Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4.Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5.to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6.Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7.In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8.and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
9.Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10.and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
11.For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12.It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13.while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14.who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15.These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
The Collection for the Lord’s People
1.Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2.On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3.Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4.If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
Personal Requests
5.After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6.Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7.For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8.But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9.because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
10.When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11.No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12.Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
13.Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14.Do everything in love.
15.You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16.to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17.I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18.For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
Final Greetings
19.The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings.
Aquila and Priscilla16:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
20.All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21.I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
22.If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord16:22 The Greek for Come, Lord reproduces an Aramaic expression (Marana tha) used by early Christians.!
23.The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24.My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.16:24 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.
Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts
1.In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
2.Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3.Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
4.“The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
5.“And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
6.“After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7.“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
8.“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
9.“As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
10.A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.
11.“Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12.(The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13.“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,7:13 The Aramaic phrase bar enash means human being. The phrase son of man is retained here because of its use in the New Testament as a title of Jesus, probably based largely on this verse. coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14.He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
The Interpretation of the Dream
15.“I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16.I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.
“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17.‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18.But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
19.“Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20.I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21.As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22.until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
23.“He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24.The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25.He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year
26.“ ‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27.Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
28.“This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
The End Times
1.“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2.Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3.Those who are wise12:3 Or who impart wisdom will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4.But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
5.Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6.One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
7.The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.12:7 Or a year, two years and half a year When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
8.I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
9.He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10.Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11.“From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12.Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
13.“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2.Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3.The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4.The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5.The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7.
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8.The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9.
“ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10.
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12.
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14.
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15.To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,25:15 Greek five talents… two talents… one talent; also throughout this parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wage. each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16.The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17.So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18.But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20.The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22.
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24.
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25.So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26.
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27.Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28.
“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29.For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30.And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Sheep and the Goats
31.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32.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. 33.He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34.
“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. 35.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, 36.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.’
37.
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38.When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39.When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40.
“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.’
41.
“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. 42.For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43.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.’
44.
“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?’
45.
“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.’
46.
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.