Matthew 25:39

KJV

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

KJV (with Strong's)

{G1161} Or when {G4219} saw we {G1492} thee {G4571} sick {G772}, or {G2228} in {G1722} prison {G5438}, and {G2532} came {G2064} unto {G4314} thee {G4571}?

Complete Jewish Bible

When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?'

Berean Standard Bible

When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’

American Standard Version

And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 25:39 captures the bewildered response of those condemned in Jesus' Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, who question when they ever saw the King in a state of sickness or imprisonment and failed to minister to Him. This rhetorical question highlights their profound spiritual blindness and lack of recognition of Christ's radical identification with the most vulnerable members of society, revealing a critical disconnect between their self-perception and the true nature of discipleship as defined by selfless service.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 25:39 is situated within the climactic "Olivet Discourse" (Matthew 24-25), Jesus' final major teaching before His passion. Specifically, it forms part of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46), which immediately follows the parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents. These three parables collectively emphasize the necessity of watchfulness, faithful stewardship, and active, compassionate service in anticipation of the King's return. The question in verse 39 is posed by the "goats" (the unrighteous) in response to the King's accusation that they neglected Him in His various states of need, underscoring their utter surprise and incomprehension regarding the basis of their condemnation.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The parable reflects the social realities of first-century Judea, where poverty, illness, and imprisonment were common. Imprisonment often resulted from debt, political dissent, or religious persecution, and those incarcerated were typically dependent on family or community for basic necessities. There was no state welfare system, making personal acts of charity and hospitality crucial for survival. Jesus' teaching would have resonated deeply with His audience, who understood the precariousness of life for the marginalized. Furthermore, the concept of a final judgment, where a divine figure separates humanity based on their deeds, was a familiar theme in Jewish apocalyptic literature, though Jesus' specific criteria for judgment—radical identification with the "least of these"—would have been revolutionary.

* **Key Themes:** This verse, embedded within the parable, powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel and biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **radical identification**, where Jesus equates service to the vulnerable with service to Himself, as explicitly stated in [Matthew 25:40](/matthew/25-40 "Matthew 25:40 - Identification with the Least of These"). This challenges conventional notions of religious piety by emphasizing practical compassion over mere ritual or intellectual assent. Another key theme is **eschatological judgment**, where the ultimate separation of humanity is based not on professed faith alone, but on the tangible fruits of that faith in loving action (or inaction). The "goats'" surprise highlights the theme of **spiritual blindness**—their failure to perceive Christ's presence in the suffering and their consequent missed opportunities for genuine discipleship. This parable, and verse 39 in particular, serves as a profound commentary on the nature of true righteousness and the demands of the Kingdom of God, echoing the ethical demands found throughout [the Sermon on the Mount](/matthew/5 "Matthew 5 - The Sermon on the Mount").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **saw (Greek, _eídō'_):** From G1492, this verb primarily means "to see" (literally or figuratively) and, by implication, "to know" (especially in the perfect tense). In Matthew 25:39, the past tense "saw" (aorist active indicative) indicates a completed action. The "goats" are claiming they *never* perceived Jesus in such a state. This suggests not just a physical lack of sight, but a profound spiritual blindness—a failure to "know" or recognize Christ's presence in the suffering, which is the core of their condemnation.
* **sick (Greek, _asthenḗs'_):** From G772, this adjective describes someone as "strengthless," "feeble," "impotent," or "weak." It emphasizes a state of physical vulnerability and inability to care for oneself. The inclusion of "sick" alongside "hungry," "thirsty," "stranger," "naked," and "in prison" highlights the comprehensive nature of human need that Jesus identifies with, extending beyond merely economic or social deprivation to include physical affliction.
* **prison (Greek, _phylakḗ'_):** From G5438, this noun refers to a "guarding" or "guard," but concretely, it signifies a "place of guarding," hence a "prison" or "imprisonment." In the context of the parable, it denotes physical confinement and the associated vulnerability, isolation, and dependence on others for care. The "goats'" failure to visit those in prison speaks to a lack of compassion for individuals in one of the most dire and often forgotten states of human suffering.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Or when saw we thee sick":** This clause initiates the "goats'" bewildered response. The interrogative "when" (G4219, _póte_) underscores their genuine surprise and perceived lack of opportunity to serve Christ in this specific condition. Their question implies that if they *had* seen Him sick, they *would* have ministered to Him, revealing a self-justifying posture rooted in ignorance of Christ's identification with the vulnerable.
* **"or in prison":** This phrase continues the list of conditions in which the King was supposedly neglected. The conjunction "or" (G2228, _ḗ_) links "sick" and "in prison," emphasizing that their failure extended to various forms of human suffering and confinement. The "in" (G1722, _en_) denotes a state of being within the confines of a prison, highlighting the specific vulnerability of incarceration.
* **"and came unto thee?":** This final clause completes the rhetorical question, emphasizing their claimed lack of action. The verb "came" (G2064, _érchomai_) implies a proactive movement towards someone to offer help or comfort. Their question suggests that such an act of compassion was never prompted because they never recognized the King in such a state. This reveals their spiritual blindness and the profound disconnect between their understanding of faith and its practical outworking in love for others.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 25:39, as part of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, employs several potent literary devices. The primary device is **Rhetorical Question**, where the "goats" ask a question not for information, but to express their profound surprise and to implicitly deny the King's accusation. This device effectively highlights their spiritual blindness and the stark contrast between their self-perception and the divine judgment. **Irony** is also present, as the very people who claim to be ignorant of Christ's suffering are condemned for their inaction, while those who acted compassionately did so without explicitly knowing they were serving Christ. This underscores the unexpected nature of true discipleship. Furthermore, the entire parable functions as an **Allegory**, where the "King" represents Jesus, the "sheep" represent the righteous, and the "goats" represent the unrighteous. The specific conditions (hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, in prison) serve as **Symbolism** for the universal human experience of vulnerability and need, through which Christ reveals His presence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 25:39, within the broader parable, fundamentally redefines piety and judgment, shifting the focus from religious observance to radical compassion. It asserts that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent or ritualistic practice, but an active, tangible love that recognizes and responds to the needs of the marginalized. The "goats'" surprise reveals a profound theological error: a failure to grasp Christ's solidarity with the suffering, which is a core tenet of incarnational theology. Their question implicitly asks, "How could we have known that serving the least of these was serving You?" The parable's answer is that true love doesn't wait for explicit recognition but flows from a heart aligned with God's own compassion for the broken world. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that our treatment of the vulnerable is a direct reflection of our love for God and a crucial indicator of our spiritual state.

* [Proverbs 19:17](/proverbs/19-17 "Proverbs 19:17 - Lending to the Lord")
* [James 2:15-17](/james/2-15-17 "James 2:15-17 - Faith Without Works Is Dead")
* [1 John 4:20](/1_john/4-20 "1 John 4:20 - Love for God and Neighbor")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 25:39 serves as a piercing mirror, inviting us to examine the depth of our own understanding of discipleship. The "goats'" bewildered question, "Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" should prompt us to consider if we, too, might be missing opportunities to serve Christ by overlooking the suffering around us. It challenges us to move beyond a passive faith to an active, empathetic engagement with the world's pain. True Christian living is not just about what we believe, but profoundly about how we embody that belief in practical acts of love and mercy. This means intentionally seeking out those on the margins, extending compassion to the forgotten, and recognizing that in every act of kindness to the vulnerable, we are ministering to the very heart of God. Our actions, or inactions, in these moments reveal the true condition of our hearts and our understanding of Christ's presence in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways might I be inadvertently overlooking or failing to recognize Christ in the "least of these" in my daily life?**
* **What practical steps can I take this week to intentionally serve someone who is sick, imprisoned, a stranger, hungry, thirsty, or naked?**
* **How does my current understanding of faith translate into tangible acts of compassion, and where might there be a disconnect?**
* **If I were to stand before the King, what "neglects" might I be surprised to learn I committed, and how can I address them now?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of the "goats'" surprise in Matthew 25:39?**

Answer: The "goats'" surprise is highly significant because it reveals their profound spiritual blindness and self-deception. They genuinely did not perceive that their neglect of the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and imprisoned was a direct neglect of Christ Himself. This highlights a critical disconnect between their outward religious identity (implied by their presence at the judgment) and their inner spiritual reality. Their question, "Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" shows they were unaware of Christ's radical identification with the vulnerable, underscoring that true faith is demonstrated through tangible acts of love and compassion, not merely through intellectual assent or religious ritual. It serves as a stark warning that genuine discipleship requires an active, empathetic heart that recognizes Christ's presence in the suffering of others.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 25:39, though spoken by those who failed to recognize Christ, profoundly points to Christ's unique and radical identification with humanity, particularly its most vulnerable members. This passage is not merely about good deeds, but about the very nature of the King who judges. Jesus, the Son of Man who comes in glory ([Matthew 25:31](/matthew/25-31 "Matthew 25:31 - The Son of Man Comes in Glory")), is the one who emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation")), and who perfectly embodied the love He now demands. His life was a testament to serving the sick, the marginalized, and the outcast (e.g., [Matthew 9:35](/matthew/9-35 "Matthew 9:35 - Jesus Healing and Teaching")). The "goats'" failure to see Christ in the suffering is a failure to grasp the very essence of the Incarnation, where God became flesh and dwelt among us, identifying with our humanity in its weakness and need ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Incarnation of the Word")). Ultimately, the judgment described in this parable is a reflection of Christ's own character and mission: to seek and save the lost ([Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - The Son of Man Seeks the Lost")) and to call His followers to participate in that same redemptive work by loving those whom He loves, especially the "least of these." Thus, Christ is not only the judge but also the one who, through His life, death, and resurrection, makes such radical identification and compassionate service possible for His redeemed people ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.