Linen

This week we begin worship with:

Matthew 25:37-40

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

To understand this verse, we must compare it to what is said to the condemned:

Matthew 25:44-45

Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

The differences are slight but important.  

First, when addressing those that are saved, He calls them "my brothers".  While the parable concerns ones action or inaction, salvation still depends upon God and His redemption and adoption of us.  This is why we are called "brothers".  This is also why the righteous are invited to "inherit" in a prior verse (v34).  Only the siblings inherit.

Second, when addressing those who are condemned, they were condemned because they missed one, rather than those that are being blessed for every time they ministered to others.  When attempting your own salvation all it only takes one mistake.  When trusting the work of Christ, each success regardless of the quantity of failures, is credited to us.  

Our righteous acts, every one of them, will adorn us, for we are the Bride of Christ:

Revelation 19:6-8

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God

    the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult

    and give him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

    and his Bride has made herself ready;

it was granted her to clothe herself

    with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.