Matthew 25:37

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?

Then {G5119} shall the righteous {G1342} answer {G611} him {G846}, saying {G3004}, Lord {G2962}, when {G4219} saw we {G1492} thee {G4571} an hungred {G3983}, and {G2532} fed {G5142} thee? or {G2228} thirsty {G1372}, and {G2532} gave thee drink {G4222}?

Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?

Matthew 25:37 is a pivotal verse within Jesus' profound Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, which describes the final judgment. Here, the righteous are depicted as genuinely surprised by the King's (Jesus') commendation, unaware that their acts of kindness and charity to the needy were, in fact, service rendered directly to Him.

Context

This verse comes immediately after the King has declared to the "sheep" (the righteous) that they are blessed and have inherited the Kingdom prepared for them, because they provided for Him when He was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, or in prison (Matthew 25:34-36). The righteous, in their humility and genuine service, respond with a question of innocent bewilderment, indicating their lack of self-serving motives. This scene sets the stage for the crucial revelation of Matthew 25:40.

Key Themes

  • Humility of the Righteous: The surprise expressed by the righteous highlights their profound humility. They did not perform good deeds for recognition or reward, but out of genuine compassion and love, embodying agape love that "seeketh not her own." Their actions were a natural outflow of their character, not a calculated effort to earn favor.
  • Service to Christ Through Others: The core message underscored by this question is that acts of kindness and charity shown to the most vulnerable members of society are considered by Jesus as direct service to Himself. This principle elevates every act of compassion towards "the least of these" to a sacred act of worship.
  • Authenticity of Faith: The righteous demonstrate a faith that is active and expressed through tangible deeds, rather than mere words or intellectual assent. Their actions are an authentic reflection of their internal transformation and relationship with God.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version's phrasing "an hungred" is an archaic yet poetic way of saying "hungry," emphasizing the directness of their question. The Greek word for "righteous" is dikaioi (δίκαιοι), which denotes those who are just, upright, and in right standing with God. Their surprise stems from their understanding that their actions were simply acts of human kindness, not specifically directed at the divine, yet they are revealed to be so.

Practical Application

Matthew 25:37 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today:

  • Motivations for Service: It challenges us to examine our motives for serving others. True Christian service is often selfless and unnoticed by human eyes, performed out of love for God and neighbor, not for praise or recognition.
  • Seeing Christ in Others: This verse encourages us to see the face of Christ in every person, especially those who are marginalized, suffering, or in need. Every act of compassion, every meal shared, every visit to the sick or imprisoned, can be viewed as an act of devotion to Jesus Himself.
  • Living Out Faith: It underscores that genuine faith is not passive but active, demonstrated through concrete actions of mercy and justice. As James 2:17 states, "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 6:3

    But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

  • 1 Peter 5:5

    ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

  • 1 Peter 5:6

    Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

  • 1 Chronicles 29:14

    But who [am] I, and what [is] my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things [come] of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

  • Proverbs 15:33

    ¶ The fear of the LORD [is] the instruction of wisdom; and before honour [is] humility.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • Isaiah 64:6

    ¶ But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

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