34 “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. 35
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, 36 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.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer
him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or
thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see
you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and
clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go
to visit you?’ 40 “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.’
Part 2
41 “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. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to
eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 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.’ 44 “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?’ 45 “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.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal
punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Interpretation
A religion of loving and kindness
Christians have a
duty to love their
neighbour
Loving Christ means
serving others, especially
those in need of help.
The works of mercy
Parable shows ways
Christians can show
their kindness
Visting/caring
for the sick
Welcoming
strangers into
society
Providing for the
hungry and thirsty
Clothing/respecting
those who've lost
everything (been
stripped of their dignity)
Visiting/attending
prisoners
Christian moral responsibily
Reasons why Christians are
bound to care for the needy
obedience for Jesus
Respect for
human beings
As a response to the love of
God shown to hymn beings
because of Jesus
Teachings
"Consider that Christ is the tramp... look after
the poor first... do not forget your brothers in
distress..." -Homily, St John Chrysostom
"If everyone took only what he
needed and gave the rest to
those in need, there would be
no such thing as rich and
poor..." -St Basil