Hospitality to the Least (Matthew 25:31-36) | Food for Thought

 

Matthew 25:31-36

  • See also Mark 10:23-31; Acts 3:1-10; Romans 14:1-15:7

Questions

  • On what grounds does the Son of Man, the King, invite the “sheep” into the kingdom of God and eternal life? (…and likewise not invite the “goats” in?)

    • What does this tell you about how important serving the “least of these” is to God (…and should be to his people!)?

    • How could our hospitality towards “the least of these” be described from this text as either being godly or demonic? Is there any in-between?

  • WHY and HOW does the Son of Man identify so closely with “the least of these?”

    • What does Jesus mean when he says that serving even one of them was the same as doing it “to” or “for” him? (…and on the flip side, not serving them was the same as not doing it “to” or “for” him?)

    • In light of all this, how mindful should we be of Jesus when we see other people in need, serve other people in need, etc.?

    • Does this change the way we see Jesus and/or others?

  • What does hospitality look like towards the least of these? How can you expect, plan for, invite in, etc. “the least of these” in your life, community, etc.?

    • Is your heart ready and willing to serve in those ways? Is your budget? Your home? Your theology, the words you might say, your friends, family, or group members?

  • At the beginning of Acts 3, we get a picture of where hospitality is rooted: the invitation to be healed and worship Christ. Read verses 1-10.

    • How does this free you from expectation you might have, pressures you might feel, ways you have to / don’t want to respond in the face of people in need?

    • How does this empower you to look others in the face, humanize the different or the needy, and offer them the hope, dignity, and satisfaction of the gospel?

  • How does all of this pair with the TANGIBLE aspect of the kingdom of God that takes shape in generosity, invitation, relationship, etc. - in other words, hospitality?!?!? (Read Mark 10:23-31.

    • Read Mark 10:23-31. How does the local church get to be a partial fulfillment of the good news of the gospel as heaven’s kingdom on earth?

 
Make RoomScott O'Donohoe