And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
And {G2532} the King {G935} shall answer {G611} and say {G2046} unto them {G846}, Verily {G281} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, Inasmuch {G1909} as {G3745} ye have done {G4160} it unto one {G1520} of the least {G1646} of these {G5130} my {G3450} brethren {G80}, ye have done {G4160} it unto me {G1698}.
The King will say to them, `Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!'
And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.
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Proverbs 19:17
¶ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. -
Proverbs 14:31
¶ He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. -
Matthew 10:42
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold [water] only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. -
Mark 9:41
¶ For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. -
1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently: -
Matthew 18:5
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. -
Matthew 18:6
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 25:40 KJV:
‹And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.›
Context
This powerful verse concludes the description of the righteous in Jesus' Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, found in Matthew 25:31-46. The scene depicts the Son of Man (Jesus) sitting on his glorious throne, separating humanity into two groups based on how they responded to those in need—the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and imprisoned. The 'King' here is Jesus himself, explaining the profound significance of seemingly simple acts of compassion.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "the least of these my brethren" (τῶν ἐλαχίστων τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου - tōn elachistōn toutōn tōn adelphōn mou) is central. "Least" (elachistōn) means the very smallest, weakest, or most insignificant. "My brethren" (tōn adelphōn mou) has been interpreted in several ways: as referring specifically to suffering believers (fellow disciples of Christ), or more broadly to all humanity, particularly the most vulnerable and oppressed. Regardless of the precise scope, the core message is clear: Christ is found among and identifies with those in greatest need.
Reflection and Application
This verse challenges believers to see Christ in the faces of the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, and the marginalized. It elevates acts of practical charity and compassion from mere social work to profound expressions of worship and love for God. Jesus teaches that genuine faith is not just about belief, but about actively doing good to others, particularly those in distress. It reminds us that neglecting those in need is, in essence, neglecting Christ himself. Our actions towards the least of these are a mirror reflecting our relationship with the King.