Important Pete Kersker - Mar 20, 2026 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 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. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left” (Matthew 25:31-33 NIV). God provides enough air, water, food, and clothing/shelter for everyone to be able to live. In the Law given to us through Moses, we were instructed to leave the edges/corners of our fields for the poor and foreigner among us. Jesus instructed us to actively care for those in need, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. "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. 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, 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.' "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 invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "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'” (Matthew 25:34-40 NIV). Often times, though, it's not clear that we place the value or importance to these commands that God places on them. We promote the importance of cleaning up our speech, cleaning up our act, going to church, praying, and even giving financially to the church. Do we prioritize helping those in need in the same way? Jesus' parable, which we're reading through today, tells us that this is a matter of eternal life or death. "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. 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 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.' "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?' "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.'" (Matthew 25:41-45 NIV). We cannot be Jesus' disciples (students) and not do what he teaches us to do. Jesus teaches us to love one another in very practical ways. We begin by caring for one another enough to make sure everyone has what they need to live. "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life" (Matthew 25:46 NIV). Do you care about your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you help them when they are in need? Is it as important to you as it is to Jesus?