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And the ones that Jesus commended for those works were those who did them without the intent of earning brownie points with God.

They were unaware that they were even doing works that pleased God.

It’s the one’s who appeal to their works who Jesus tells, *Depart from me, I never knew you*.

So if Catholics are doing *corporeal acts of mercy* thinking that they are pleasing God or earning points to get into heaven, or ensuring their place in heaven, they need to think again.

If they’re being done for yourself, they are self-centered and being done to manipulate God. That means they are not being done purely and do not count. The reason for doing the works is to show the love of God to others. They should be outward focused, not inward focused, with the doer thinking he is gaining something from it.

*****They were unaware that they were even doing works that pleased God.*****

What they were unaware of was that the things they had done for the least of Christ’s brethren were done for Christ because He lives within them. That is what Jesus is telling them. Just as Jesus accused Saul of persecuting Him when Saul was persecuting the Christians. It is why John says that one cannot love God and hate his neighbor.

In Matthew 25, Jesus is not speaking of pleasing God, but of what we do with the blessings that we have been given.

And is it wrong to want to please God?

Ephesians 5:10 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

Colossians 1:9-10

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

To do God’s will is pleasing to Him. Jesus lived and died to please God.

John 8:29

And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

Jesus also claimed that the works that He did were a testimony to who He is......

31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus replied, `I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?’
33 The Jews answered, `It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.’
34 Jesus answered, `Is it not written in your law, “I said, you are gods”?
35 If those to whom the word of God came were called “gods” and the scripture cannot be annulled
36 can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, “I am God’s Son”?
37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me.
38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’

Are we not also sons and daughters of God? Do our works not reveal His glory to others? Is the Father in us and we in Him?

Who are you to question the motives of others? Do you know their hearts as only God can know them? And what is it that God wants for us? Jesus said God desires that all men be saved? Can it be wrong then to want that for ourselves?

What you call brownie points, Jesus calls treasure in heaven.

If we are moved by love for God to do good works for those who may not deserve those works, isn’t that pleasing to God? If it is not, what does that say about the work of Jesus? After all, Jesus did what He did out of love for God and love for us. Was Jesus not pleasing to God? In the same way, are we not then pleasing to God, and don’t our works, done out of love for Him and for our neighbor, give glory to Him?

Is not the reward for doing God’s will and thus pleasing Him eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Ephesians6:8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.