“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, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” - Matthew 25:41-46

Who is Jesus talking about in this passage?  Just who are the hungry, thirsty, poor, needy or distressed in some way? 

Some scholars think that to say, ‘any person in need’ is to take the scripture too far in its interpretation.  But how can that be?  Jesus didn’t feed just his disciples when he fed the 4,000 or 5,000 hungry mouths.  Jesus didn’t heal only his closest friends.  Nor did he limit himself to Jewish believers at all times.  A Roman Centurian - (Luke 7:1-10), Samaritan woman – (John 4:26), etc.  There were always people on the outside whom Jesus drew in by acts of love and kindness.
 

There is also a warning for us here too.  We must choose for ourselves either eternal punishment or eternal life!  Strong words but none the less true.  Why do I believe that?   “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (v46).  That’s the words of Jesus not mine.  Let me explain.  It is not that we go to hell for not helping others.  No!  Not helping others is a sign that we are not living a life dedicated to Jesus Christ.  Every time we find someone in need, is an opportunity to check out our hearts.  Is mine hard or is it soft to the needs of others?  As it says in James 2:26 we are not saved by works but our works are a sign of our love, faith, spirituality and commitment to our Lord. 

So next time you see someone in need, what will you do?  It could be a sign of where you want to spend your eternity?