Memorable Sayings of Jesus
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Saying 26A
“I was hungry and you gave me food.”
—Matthew 25:35a (NRSV)
In this passage, Jesus refers to the Great Judgment, in which he separates the sheep from the goats. Jesus will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food” (Matthew 25:34b–35a NRSV). Jesus also mentions being a stranger, being naked, being sick, and being in prison, and being ministered to in all those situations. However, others did not minister to his needs. The people asked Jesus when they failed to minister to him. Jesus replied, “Truly, I tell you just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:45b NRSV).
In most of our churches, we hear songs, prayers, and sermons about salvation, faith, belief in Christ, sharing the gospel, and witnessing to lost people. All of this is good, and it is biblical. We have Bible verses that relate directly to these words, such as John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8–9, 1 John 1:9, and many more. However, that is not the complete picture. Yes, faith in Christ is essential to becoming a Christian, but becoming a Christian is only the beginning of our Christian pilgrimage. Years ago, I heard an old preacher say, “Christianity is what we do.” I never forgot that statement, even though I never truly understood what it meant either. As the years have gone by, I have come to understand what he meant. He meant what Jesus said. Feed the hungry. As Christians, Christ gave us a task to minister to the needs of people. Faith then is what we do, faith is what we say, and faith is how we love others. Faith is feeding the hungry and caring for the sick; faith is doing what Jesus did and living like Jesus lived. James was correct when he wrote, “So faith by itself, if it has no works [no ministry, no loving, no caring for others], is dead” (James 2:17 NRSV).
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About the Book
Gene M. Adams has always been drawn to short sayings that can inform us how to live—and Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, gave us plenty of them.
Using Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he found numerous short remarks from Jesus filled with wisdom. Sayings include:
• “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)
• “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” —Matthew 7:7 (NKJV)
• “For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” —Matthew 9:13 (RSV)
The book includes dozens of other sayings, and the author breaks down each one to explain what Jesus means, why it’s important, and how we can apply its guidance to our daily lives.
Find comfort, ignite your faith, and discover insights that will lead you closer to the Lord with this collection of sayings.
About the Author
Gene M. Adams was raised in West Kentucky and attended a small church in his community. He attended Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, before earning a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in humanities from Florida State University. He pastored churches, mostly in the Carolinas, for twenty-three years. He also taught at Valencia College in Florida for twenty-five years before retiring.