Matthew 25 · a question people ask
Who are "the least of these my brothers" (25:40)?
First, what the chapter says. "The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" (25:40). To those on the left he says, "because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me" (25:45). Christians read who they are in two main ways, each resting on its verses, and these notes don't choose between them. Both agree that the King counts what was done to them as done to him (25:40, 25:45), and that Christians are to "do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith" (Galatians 6:10). These notes say nothing about who is saved or lost beyond 25:46's own words, and name no group today.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Anyone in need
Those who read it this way note that the King names hunger, thirst, strangers, nakedness, sickness and prison (25:35-36), and that those on his left did not do it "to one of the least of these" (25:45). They set beside it Jesus's words "Go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37).
Matthew 25:35-36 · Matthew 25:45 · Luke 10:37
Jesus's disciples
Those who read it this way note that Jesus says, "whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother" (12:50), and, after he had risen, "Go tell my brothers" (28:10). They set beside it his words when he sent out the twelve, "He who receives you receives me" (10:40), and the cup of cold water given "in the name of a disciple" (10:42).
Matthew 12:50 · Matthew 28:10 · Matthew 10:40 · Matthew 10:42
The verses
““The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
““Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’”
“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””
“So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.”