耶稣使用绵羊和山羊的比喻教导我们，祂身处在贫穷、患病、坐牢的、客旅、被遗弃的、和其他可能处于不利地位的人当中。祂紧密地与这些人认同，甚至视任何做在他们身上的善行，就等同于做在祂身上。而看顾这些人的需要所获得的奖赏就是得蒙神欢迎进入祂的国度中。
这个比喻有一个奇妙的特色，就是当绵羊听到蒙神欢迎的好消息时感到的惊愕。这真是出乎他们意料之外。当王告诉他们，透过看顾这些人，他们就已经是给祂吃、给祂穿、和探望祂了，他们感到惊愕。我们什么时候见祢饿、赤身露体、或渴呢？这就意味着，当我们见到别人有需要时，便甘心乐意服事他们，单单因为他们是有尊严的人，而不是认为这样做能带给我们任何奖赏。我们这样做，因为这是我们应该做的事。
在另一方面，山羊也同样感到惊愕。他们听到他们不能得到产业，是因为他们忽视了有需要的人。他们的反应显示，他们在那些人中看不见王，所以他们便认为那些有需要的人不配得到他们的看顾和关注了。
凡以爱心、食物、衣服、和其他方式来祝福那些贫穷的、被遗弃的人、同时又不期望以此换取奖赏的人有福了。
主啊，我若因认为别人不配而没有向他们施怜悯和爱心，求你赦免。又求你引领我去彰显你的慈爱和乐善好施的行动。阿们。
马太福音 25:31-46
31“当人子在他荣耀里同着众天使降临的时候，要坐在他荣耀的宝座上。
32万民都要聚集在他面前，他要把他们分别出来，好像牧羊的分别绵羊山羊一般：
33把绵羊安置在右边，山羊在左边。
34于是，王要向那右边的说：‘你们这蒙我父赐福的，可来承受那创世以来为你们所预备的国。
35因为我饿了，你们给我吃；渴了，你们给我喝；我做客旅，你们留我住；
36我赤身露体，你们给我穿；我病了，你们看顾我；我在监里，你们来看我。’
37义人就回答说：‘主啊，我们什么时候见你饿了给你吃，渴了给你喝？
38什么时候见你做客旅留你住，或是赤身露体给你穿？
39又什么时候见你病了或是在监里，来看你呢？’
40王要回答说：‘我实在告诉你们：这些事你们既做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是做在我身上了。’
41王又要向那左边的说：‘你们这被咒诅的人，离开我，进入那为魔鬼和他的使者所预备的永火里去！
42因为我饿了，你们不给我吃；渴了，你们不给我喝；
43我做客旅，你们不留我住；我赤身露体，你们不给我穿；我病了，我在监里，你们不来看顾我。’
44他们也要回答说：‘主啊，我们什么时候见你饿了，或渴了，或做客旅，或赤身露体，或病了，或在监里，不伺候你呢？’
45王要回答说：‘我实在告诉你们：这些事你们既不做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是不做在我身上了。’
46这些人要往永刑里去，那些义人要往永生里去。”
"Lord, when did we see you hungry . . . ?" - Matthew 25:37, 44
Jesus’ parable about sheep and goats teaches us that he is present among the poor, sick, imprisoned, strangers, outcasts, and others who may be disadvantaged. He identifies with these people so closely that an act of kindness done to them is one done to him. And the “reward” for caring for these people is to be welcomed into the kingdom of God.
A wonderful feature of this parable is the absolute surprise of the sheep when they hear the good news of their welcome. They don’t expect it. When the King tells them that by caring for these people they have fed, clothed, and visited him, they are astonished. When did we see you hungry or naked or thirsty? In other words, we only saw other humans in need and were happy to serve them simply because they were human, not because we thought it would bring us any reward. We did it because it was the right thing to do.
The goats, on the other hand, are equally surprised. They hear that they will not receive their inheritance because they neglected the people in need. Their response suggests that because they did not see the King among those people, the poor and others in need were not worthy of their care and attention.
Blessed are all who bless the poor and outcast and all others in need with kindness, food, clothing, and more without expecting to be rewarded.
Lord, forgive me if I withhold acts of mercy and kindness because I think people are undeserving. Guide me to show your love and generosity. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
