Matthew 25:35 Meaning and Explanation
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The King gives the reason: when he was hungry they fed him, when thirsty they gave him drink, when a stranger they took him in.
What Does Matthew 25:35 Mean?
The King explains the welcome with a list of needs met: hunger fed, thirst quenched, the stranger received. Meat in older English simply means food. The astonishment lies in the pronoun — I was an hungred. The enthroned King speaks as one who has personally stood at the door in need.
None of these deeds is spectacular; every one is within reach of almost anyone. A meal, a cup, an open door — Jesus counts such things as ministry to himself, a truth he will unveil in verse 40. Love for Christ has hands and a table. The kingdom belongs to those who resemble their Father, generous as he is generous.
Matthew 25:35 in the Original Language
xenos (ξένος), 'stranger' -- a foreigner or guest without local ties.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 25:35
What does Matthew 25:35 mean?
The King gives the reason: when he was hungry they fed him, when thirsty they gave him drink, when a stranger they took him in.