Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 5/18/2008

Question
Can you help finding answers to the following questions on Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)

1.    Who are the “least of these brothers of mine” Jesus refers to in verse 40 & 45?
2.   Jesus says people will be sent to heaven or hell based what they did during their lifetime (to the least of the brothers of His).  There is no mention of the necessity to accepting Him as saviour for entering heaven?  What do I have to understand on this?

Sincerely,
Lenin

Answer
Hi Lennin,

THank you for this great question.  I am sorry for my late response.  Here are some things to keep in mind.

1.  Not everyone is a child of God.

John 8:44
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2.  Only those who believe in Jesus as savior have been adopted into the family of God.

John 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Romans 8:15
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

3. Once we have been adopted, then we are Christ's brothers.

Romans 8:17
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

4.  THe least of my brethren is one of those folks who are born again.

5.  The way we treat other believers is EVIDENCE of the fact that we have already accepted Jesus.

1 John 2:9-11
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In CHrist
Pastor Don