Matius 25:35

25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

Matius 10:37-38

10:37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 10:38 And whoever does not take up his cross ¹  and follow me is not worthy of me.

Matius 12:30

12:30 Whoever is not with me is against me, ²  and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³ 

[10:38]  ¹ sn It was customary practice in a Roman crucifixion for the prisoner to be made to carry his own cross. Jesus is speaking figuratively here in the context of rejection. If the priority is not one’s allegiance to Jesus, then one will not follow him in the face of possible rejection.

[12:30]  ² sn Whoever is not with me is against me. The call here is to join the victor. Failure to do so means that one is being destructive. Responding to Jesus is the issue.

[12:30]  ³ sn For the image of scattering, see Pss. Sol. 17:18.