The Divine and the Marginalized A Revolutionary Vision of Justice Based on Matthew 25:31 46 on the Daily Bible Refresh with Dr. Brad Miller hello my good friends, Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh, your daily visit into the New Testament of the Bible.

From a progressive perspective, we make the study of the Bible understandable in as much as we use the Message version of the Bible, relatable in as much as we have some points to ponder and applicable as we give you an action step to follow.

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We use the daily reading from the Revised Common Lectionary.

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Here's our reading for the day from Matthew 25:31 46 the sheep and the Goats when he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with them, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne.

Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right hand and goats to his left.

Then the king will say to those on his right, enter you who are blessed by My Father.

Take what's coming to you in this kingdom.

It's been ready for you since the world's foundation and here's why.

I was hungry and you fed me.

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink.

I was homeless and you gave me room.

I was shivering and you gave me clothes.

I was sick and you stopped to visit.

I was in prison and you came to me.

Then those sheep are going to say, master, what are you talking about?

When do we ever see you hungry and feed you thirsty and give you a drink?

And when do we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?

Then the King will say, I'm telling the solemn truth.

Whenever you do one of these things for someone overlooked or ignored, that was me.

You did it to me.

Then he will turn to the goats, the ones on his left, and say, get out, worthless goats.

You're good for nothing but the fires of hell.

And why?

Because I was hungry and you gave me no meal.

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink.

I was homeless and you gave me no bed.

I was shivering and you gave me no clothes.

Sick and in prison and you never visited.

Then Those goats are going to say, master, what are you talking about?

When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?

And he will answer them, I'm telling the solemn truth.

Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me.

You failed to do it to me.

Then those goats will be herded to their eternal doom, but the sheep to their eternal reward.

Hmm.

Well, my good friends, today we're really exploring Jesus's radical vision of the divine presence, the presence of God in those whom society has often overlooked or even, in many cases, actively oppresses.

So this powerful text presents judgment not based on correct beliefs or religious observance, but on how we treat the most vulnerable members of our society.

And Jesus identifies himself completely with the marginalized, transforming how we understand both divine presence and human responsibility.

Let's talk about some points to ponder.

The first is the politics of recognition.

Notice that the sheep don't recognize Jesus and their actions.

They simply respond to human need.

This challenges both performative charity and theological gatekeeping.

The divine is present not in religious ceremonies, but in authentic solidarity with the marginalized.

How does this reshape our understanding of church and worship?

The second point is about systemic sin and collective responsibility.

The goats are judged not for active harm, but for passive participation in systems of neglect.

Their sin is the sin of omission, failing to challenge structures that create hunger, homelessness, and mass incarceration.

How are we complicit in systems that Jesus explicitly condemns?

Another point is about revolutionary reversal.

Jesus completely identifies with prisoners, homeless people, and the sick, not as a patron helping from above, but is one of them.

This radically challenges charity models that maintain power hierarchies.

How might this transform our approach to social justice, from helping the less fortunate to joining in solidarity with Christ in the marginalized?

Here's your actions tip.

Practice solidarity mapping.

So list a few groups, maybe five or six, that Jesus mentions here.

They're hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, sick, imprisoned, and research organizations led directly by people affected by those type of things.

Choose someone to support.

It might mean financial commitment or volunteer work or an advocacy for systematic change or providing leadership of some sort.

Remember, follow the lead of those who are impacted directly rather than try to impose your solutions.

We're going to have a prayer in just a moment, but we want to share with you that we do have an incredible resource for you called the ABC 123 Bible study method.

It is here for you and you can find it at the Voice of God daily.

We hope that you'll go there and pick that up.

It will help you in your daily Bible study.

Let's have our prayer.

Oh God, you are a divine presence in the margins when we when we look for you, uncomfortable places redirect our gaze to the streets and prisons we try to help from positions.

Teach us true solidarity.

Help us to see you clearly in those whose society would rather ignore.

Make us uncomfortable with comfort while others lack basics.

Transform our charity into justice, our pity into partnership until your kingdom comes through the liberation of all.

Amen.

It's always great to be with you here on the Daily Bible Refresh.

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Friends, My name is Dr. Brad Miller.

Remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up.

It's created new every morning.