© Matthew Tuel — 2025
Psalm 16:3-4 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
3 As for God’s chosen people who are in the land,
and the leading officials I admired so much—
4 their troubles multiply,
they desire other gods.
I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods,
nor will I make vows in the name of their gods.
Matthew 25:31-46 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
The Judgment
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on 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 foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 12:20 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
20 He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick,
until he brings justice to victory.
1st John 2:12-14 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
Words of Reassurance
12 I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one. 14 I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
With Calvin, we see the call to take care of our brothers and sisters in Christ. These passages are specific to ministering to believers. This does not mean we should neglect unbelievers, but as Calvin points out here, there is an implied order to things and that order dictates that fellow believers come first. This is contrary to what seems to be popular sentiment which is believers are responsible to ministering to everyone, and believers (or even direct family members) shouldn't take priority. You can make an argument for this, but not with these passages. Don't fall prey to the weaponized empathy that the culture is trying to wield against you.
With Spurgeon, we see "sweet comfort for feeble saints."