Matthew 25:45 Meaning and Explanation
“Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The King answers: what they did not do for one of the least of these, they did not do for him.
What Does Matthew 25:45 Mean?
The King repeats the great identification of verse 40, now in the negative and under the same solemn oath: neglect of the least was neglect of him. This time the phrase my brethren falls away; only the least of these remains, as though to leave no one outside the circle of the warning.
No one on the left disputes the facts; the omissions were real, and only their meaning had been invisible. Jesus removes the invisibility for every reader: we now know whom we meet in the needy. That knowledge is given while there is still time to act on it. The verse condemns no one who lets it change today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 25:45
What does Matthew 25:45 mean?
The King answers: what they did not do for one of the least of these, they did not do for him.