Did Jesus Promote Socialism? - Part 2

*Updated 12/2019*

Last week we began exploring the question of “Did Jesus promote socialism?” In case you missed it, read it here. We looked at two passages in particular: Luke 6 and 14. We discovered that God is the source of all of our resources. As a follower of Christ, we are to help those in need freely because of our love of God. Because we want to be good stewards of what he has given us. God does not rip His money and resources out of our hands to give away. That is not God’s model. God wants us help as the Spirit leads in accordance to our love for Him.

This week we’ll examine Matthew 25. It reads, ““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; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me…Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” (NASB, Matthew 25:35-36, 40).

In verses 31-46 Jesus is giving a metaphor for the final judgment of mankind. A common picture of the shepherd and his flock. Christ is the shepherd. The flock is broken into sheep, the Christians, and the goats, the unsaved. First we see he calls those blessed who are the heirs of His kingdom. He lists some of the actions of a Christian: feeding the hungry, giving refreshment to the thirsty, clothing the naked, and visiting the secluded.

Scholar and Preacher Myron Augsburger coments, "The judgement is an indictment of the church for its lack of social involvement as kingdom members. Jesus taught that love for God is evidenced by love for our neighbor, that knowing God's forgiveness will lead us to share mercy, and that experiencing God's love we will, as a consequence, tend that love. (264).   To deny those in need, we deny Christ. The self-consuming lifestyle of the unbeliever and ultimate rejection of Christ results in eternal punishment in Hell.

A key element of this passage is verse 40. “To the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.” Who are the “brothers?” Who are the least of these brothers? That is has been debated for years. Brothers is the transliterated Greek word “adelphos” means brother by blood, any fellow, or brethren of Christ. “The least of them” is the transliterated Greek “elachistos.” It refers to size, authority, rank or estimation of men. Craig Blomberg shares two central interpretations. “The majority perspective…refer to spiritual kin as the term does elsewhere in Matthew in every instance which biological siblings are not in view…’the least’ is the superlative form, also without exception in Matthew refers to disciples...Today, however, the prevailing interpretation is teaching about the need to help the dispossessed whether or not they are Christian.”. John MacArthur references Luke 10:29 “Who is my neighbor?” MacArthur believes the point is that we should love all people and serve anyone.

I agree with this approach that we are to love all people and serve anyone. Again, the point is not the redistribution of wealth or the government mandate of social welfare. The point is as followers of Christ, we should be first to step up to help those in need. First for the fellow follower of Christ and second anyone else. For some it is the provision of financial resources, food to eat, or training to provide long-term sustainability. For others it is the care of recovery and return to health. And for others it is the gift of time. Simply praying with, listening to, and being with those who feel alone.

Let those who follow Christ be His hand and feet serving and giving with the intent to share Christ’s love to encourage the believer and give the gospel to the lost.