Obviously, he considers these to be very important people. And obviously, he considers it very important that we know who they are. Jesus' point is not simply to frighten us with the fear of condemnation in the end, but to make unmistakably clear what he expects of us in the meantime. He is not speaking merely of our ultimate salvation, but of the needs of all our neighbors right now. He is giving us a picture of the end, in order to help us do what is right and just and loving before the end.
Today is the Festival of Christ the King.
It is the last Sunday of the church year, the last Sunday before we begin a new year next Sunday with Advent. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the very reason for our being in time and space, for he entered time and space to dwell among us. It is fitting therefore that the church year should be crowned with Christ the King and the Festival in his name. But it is especially fitting that on this day we would hear his emphatic instruction to his disciples and to all the church that we are blessed when we serve our brothers and sisters in the world, for they are also his brothers and sisters in the family of God. Not long ago I attended a meeting with other pastors.