Matthew 25:31-40 - Red Carpet Treatment

The amenities of flying first class begin with walking on a little strip of red carpeting to be the first to board--just to remind everyone else that they aren't first class passengers. 

Preferential treatment can be much more serious: such as medical triage when doctors and nurses are forced to prioritize those most likely to survive.

There are the unjust preferences against (or for!) someone based on their skin color, their gender, their religion, choices of their free will, or annual income. (See Leviticus 19:15).

Some preferences are arbitrary: first come, first served. Restaurants have vibrating pagers. Customer service puts you in a waiting queue.

God shows preferential treatment, too. In the Old Testament, He constantly says that He defends the widow, the orphan, and "the alien that lives among you." (Deuteronomy 10:18, etc.)

Jesus set His eyes on several groups of people that are outsiders:

Matthew 25:31–40 (New Living Translation, 2015) — 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory... he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 

Then Jesus goes on to say all the good things they had done for others, and they had actually been doing it to Jesus Himself:

For I was hungry, and you fed me. 
I may not fix them lasagna or a turkey dinner, particularly for people in other parts of the world. But I can support any number of charities that feed the hungry.

I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.
There are people in nursing homes that cannot lift a water bottle to their lips. Do I stop to help them drink, even if they're not one of "my patients?"

I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
This increases the challenge. Am I willing to have someone in my house who may impose/damage/break something? What if they stay longer than expected?

I was naked, and you gave me clothing.
They may not be stark naked but they don't have sufficient clothing? Do I turn away in embarrassment? Do I give them new clothing, or cast-off, stained, threadbare rags?

I was sick, and you cared for me.
This is a time commitment... and what if I catch what they have? Just because I'm in healthcare doesn't let me off the hook. I can't say "Hey, I already put in my time today." What about the people who aren't getting the healthcare I would want for myself?

I was in prison, and you visited me.
Jesus doesn't stipulate that they are in prison for their religious convictions. Maybe they are convicted criminals. Yet for all the other categories, one can do something for them. Those in prison... all it takes is sharing one's self, one's time.

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Lord, may we see You in our neighbor in need--even those in other countries, people we'll never meet--and act accordingly. Amen.

Photo credit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UnitedRedCarpetBoarding.jpg