‘Anything you did’ Sermon

“…anything you did for one of the least important of these, you did for me.”  Mt.25:40

Our Calling as individuals and congregations is to serve God and Christ day by day.  The Gospel reading today teaches us that we serve Christ, and thus God, through service to the “least important.”

“…anything you did
For one of the least important of these,
You did for me.”

That’s our text.

As the older versions put it:

“…inasmuch as you did it to the least important of these you did it for me.”

It is a mantra I commend to you.  It is a mantra for us all.

The text, the whole Parable, gives priority to behaviour over beliefs.  Or as it says in the Letter to James:

“..faith without works is dead.”  James 2:26

That’s the challenge of our Gospel reading.

If you read the whole of Matthew 25 you will find that this is the challenge in all three Parables here:

• Five women who acted wisely are contrasted with those who foolishly did nothing [often called the Parable of the Wise Virgins];
• The one steward who acted by putting his talents to good use is contrasted with the two who did nothing with them;
• The just ones who served the “least important” are contrasted with those who did nothing.

All three Parables give priority to right behaviour:

“…faith without works is dead.”

Faith without actions is dead.

We are focussing on the Parable of the so called “Final Judgement.” 

A Parable is a picture or a story which conveys a truth.  The details in the picture/ story are often stark and vivid, in order to grab attention and drive home a truth, a message.  The purpose of the details is not to give factual information, rather they are there to make a central point.

This Parable pictures the “Final Judgement.”

To read the full sermon click here.