“Whatever you have done unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.”

Matthew 25:40

When you read Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you have done unto the least of these, you have done it unto me” – from what perspective do you read this scripture? Do you read this from the perspective of the one receiving the food?  Or do you read the scripture from the one that is giving the food?

It takes on a whole new connotation from the point of privilege that we have or don’t have. If we read this scripture from the point of view of one that gives the food, then we need to really ask ourselves how invested we are in living out this scripture. How much skin do we have in the game? What is really realistic to ask of ourselves?  And where is it that we ask too little of ourselves. I came across a rewriting of this scripture that describes when we think that we are living out scripture, but in truth, we are skimming along the surface.

“I was hungry, and you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger; I was imprisoned, and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release; I was naked, and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance; I was sick, and you knelt and thanked God for your health; I was homeless, and you preached to me of spiritual shelter and the love of God; I was lonely, and you left me alone to pray for me. You seem so holy, so close to God – but I am still very hungry, and lonely, and cold.” -Anonymous

Friends, in order for us to authentically be the Matthew 25 Church, it’s about going deeper. Jesus is asking more of us. It’s not just about “goodness”, but action.  It’s not just about transaction, but relationship.