[Winman]

Biblereader

If I may, let me present a different view on the original passage you posted.

34: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35: 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:
36: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37: Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38: When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39: Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44: Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45: Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Did you notice I highlighted "my brethren" in vs. 40? That is important, because then these works only apply to believers, not unbelievers.

I personally believe that these works all fall under preaching the Gospel.

First, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:"

How do you give a person this meat and drink? Give them Jesus.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Give them Jesus, and they will never hunger or thirst again.

"I was a stranger, and ye took me in"

1 Cor 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Give a man Jesus, and he will no longer be a stranger to God.

"Naked, and ye clothed me"

2 Cor 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

Give a person Jesus, and they will be clothed with his righteousness.

"I was sick, and ye visited me:"

Luke 5:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

Jesus is our physician who can heal us of our sins.

"I was in prison, and ye came unto me"

John 6:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Give a person Jesus, and you free them from the prison of death.

Give a person Jesus, and they will be your brethren.

Now, tell me, do these verses take on a new meaning to you now?