Good morning Grok. My Sunday School lesson yesterday left me with a question about what Jesus said about Nations and people who are citizens of their nation. Can you help me find the scriptures for what Jesus said about Nations and people of the Nations?

Good morning! I'd be happy to help with this. Jesus spoke directly about nations (often using the Greek word ethnē, meaning peoples, ethnic groups, or nations) primarily in the context of God's kingdom, the spread of the gospel, and future judgment. He didn't focus much on earthly citizenship or national politics in a modern sense—his emphasis was on the universal call to faith that transcends national boundaries.09cc87 Here are the key scriptures where Jesus addresses nations or people from the nations:

1. The Great Commission (Primary and Most Direct Statement) Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV, and similar in other versions): "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" This is Jesus' clear command to his followers to reach people from every nation (not just ethnic Israel) with the gospel. It shows God's heart for all peoples.65fa23 Parallel ideas appear in: Mark 13:10: "And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations." Luke 24:46-47: "...that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."
2. The Gospel Reaching All Nations Before the End Matthew 24:14 (in the context of end times signs): "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." This underscores that the message of Jesus is for every nation before his return.6230df
3. Judgment of the Nations Matthew 25:31-46 (the Sheep and the Goats): "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats..." Jesus describes a future judgment where he evaluates people from all nations based on how they treated "the least of these" (often interpreted as his followers or those in need). It highlights individual accountability within nations.1d93e4
4. On Earthly vs. Heavenly Kingdom (Related to Citizenship) Jesus addressed the idea of belonging when questioned by Pilate: John 18:36 (ESV): "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'" This implies that while people live as citizens of earthly nations, ultimate allegiance for his followers is to God's kingdom, which transcends national borders. (The Apostle Paul later echoes this in Philippians 3:20: "But our citizenship is in heaven...")3a953f Additional Context Jesus also interacted positively with people from other nations (e.g., the Roman centurion in Matthew 8:5-13, the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28, and the Samaritan woman in John 4), showing that faith, not national origin, determines belonging in God's kingdom. He fulfilled Old Testament promises that all nations would be blessed through Abraham's offspring (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:8 points to Christ).522caa These passages emphasize universality—the good news is for everyone, from every nation—while encouraging faithful living under earthly authorities (see also Matthew 22:21, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's"). If you'd like the verses in a specific translation (NIV, KJV, etc.), more context, cross-references from the Old Testament, or help with how these apply to your Sunday School discussion, just let me know!