Jesus
teaches the parable of the Sheep and the Goats
(New
International Version)
31) “When the
Son of Man comes into his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his
throne in heavenly glory. 32) All the
nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from
another as 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;
take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the
world. 35) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36) I
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit 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 needing clothes and clothe you? 39) When did we
see you sick or in prison and go visit you?’
40) The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41) Then he
will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the
eternal fire 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 invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not
clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44) “They also
will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or
needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45) “He will
reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for the least of these,
you did not do for me.’
46) “Then they
will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”