From the Ministry's Desk: What Would Jesus Do Today? A Call to Compassion from Matthew 25:31–46

The message in Matthew 25:31–46 (KJV) stands as one of the most powerful and direct teachings of Christ regarding our duty to help others. In this vivid passage, Jesus outlines the final judgment, where all nations are gathered before Him and separated as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. The determining factor between the two groups is not theological knowledge or public religiosity—it is the treatment of “the least of these,” His brethren. This blog explores how Jesus would help others today, examines what He expects of His followers, and highlights how Ellen G. White emphasized this sacred duty of service to others.

Matthew 25:31–46 — A Kingdom Divided by Compassion

• In this passage, Christ returns in His glory and separates people into two groups:

  • The Sheep: Blessed of the Father, inheritors of the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world.

  • The Goats: Cursed and cast into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

• The criteria for separation is crystal clear:

  "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me..." (verses 35–36).

• The righteous are commended because they served Jesus by serving others. The wicked are condemned not for evil deeds but for their failure to act.

  “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” (verse 45)

• This passage teaches us that Christ closely identifies with the suffering, the poor, and the marginalized. How we treat others is how we treat Him.

What Would Jesus Do Today to Help His Brothers and Sisters?

If Jesus were physically walking the earth today, His mission would remain unchanged. He would still be:

• Feeding the Hungry: Partnering with food banks, feeding the homeless on the streets, and sitting with the poor at shelters.

• Healing the Sick: Visiting hospitals, comforting the dying, offering care to those suffering from mental illness, and ministering to the lonely.

• Clothing the Naked: Organizing clothing drives, supporting refugees, and ensuring dignity through practical gifts.

• Welcoming Strangers: Embracing immigrants, visiting prisons, supporting the marginalized and forgotten.

• Advocating for Justice: Standing up against systemic oppression, racial injustice, and inequity—calling out hypocrisy within religious and political systems.

Christ would likely not be found in palaces or positions of power. He would be among the suffering, the oppressed, and the overlooked—just as He was during His earthly ministry.

Our Duty: Reflecting Christ's Compassion

Jesus' final message in Matthew 25 isn't simply a moral lesson—it is a blueprint for Christian living. If we profess to follow Christ, we must:

• Serve without discrimination.

• Seek out those in need rather than waiting for them to come.

• Give sacrificially, not just from our abundance.

• Recognize the humanity and divinity in everyone.

• Practice consistent, active compassion—not occasional acts of kindness.

Ellen G. White’s Insights on Helping Others

Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, wrote extensively on the Christian duty to serve others. Her writings echo the call of Matthew 25 and give practical, spiritual, and prophetic insight into service.

• Helping Others is Helping Christ:

  “When you minister to the poor, the suffering, the sinful, you minister to Christ.” (The Desire of Ages, p. 639)

• True Religion is Practical:

  “Pure religion is not a thing of sentimentality or mere emotionalism. It consists in doing the will of God, in living a life of usefulness and self-denial.” (Welfare Ministry, p. 36)

• Neglecting the Needy is a Sin:

  “Christ commits to His followers an individual work—a work that cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the poor and suffering cannot be left to committees or organizations. Individual responsibility is emphasized.” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 7, p. 62)

• Service as Preparation for Heaven:

  “Those who minister to others are the ones who are being prepared for the mansions Christ has gone to prepare.” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 326)

White consistently taught that service is not optional. It is part of the very fabric of a Christlike life. Just as Christ healed, fed, and encouraged, so must His people today.

Conclusion: Helping the Least of These Is Loving the Lord

Matthew 25:31–46 is not just a solemn prophecy—it is a mirror. It reflects whether our hearts are aligned with Christ or with selfishness. If we truly love Jesus, it will be evident in how we treat others, especially those whom society forgets.

Ellen G. White emphasized that our final judgment will hinge not on how well we preached or sang, but on how deeply we loved—through action.

Let this truth awaken us. In every act of kindness, in every moment of compassion, we are not just doing good—we are serving Christ Himself.

What would Jesus do today? He would be loving, healing, feeding, and freeing.

The better question is: Will we join Him?