Matthew 25:35 kjv
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:
Matthew 25:35 nkjv
for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
Matthew 25:35 niv
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
Matthew 25:35 esv
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Matthew 25:35 nlt
For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
Matthew 25 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 15:7-8 | "If among you... poor... open your hand..." | Command to aid the needy. |
| Is 58:7 | "Share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter..." | True fasting includes social justice and charity. |
| Prov 25:21-22 | "If your enemy is hungry, give him food; if he is thirsty, give him water..." | Extending kindness even to adversaries. |
| Lk 3:11 | "...Anyone who has two tunics should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same." | John the Baptist's call to practical sharing. |
| Jas 2:15-16 | "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace...'" | Faith without deeds is useless, highlighting inaction. |
| 1 Jn 3:17 | "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity... how can the love of God be in that person?" | Love demonstrated by meeting practical needs. |
| Lev 19:33-34 | "When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them... Love them as yourself..." | Old Testament command for hospitality to strangers. |
| Dt 10:18-19 | "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners..." | God's care for vulnerable, expectation for His people. |
| Heb 13:2 | "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." | New Testament emphasis on hospitality. |
| Rom 12:13 | "Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." | Instruction to share resources and be hospitable. |
| 3 Jn 1:5-8 | "Dear friend, you are faithful in what you do for the brothers and sisters, even for strangers... welcome such people so that we may work together for the truth." | Commends active support and welcoming fellow workers for truth. |
| Matt 10:40 | "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." | Christ identifies with His messengers, setting a precedent. |
| Matt 25:40 | "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." | Direct confirmation of the verse's meaning by Jesus. |
| Matt 25:45 | "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." | The inverse principle, condemning inaction. |
| Acts 9:4-5 | "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?... 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.'" | Christ's profound identification with His persecuted followers. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters..." | Motivation for all good deeds: doing them for Christ. |
| Micah 6:8 | "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." | Summation of God's core requirements. |
| Zech 7:9-10 | "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor..." | Call for practical compassion and justice. |
| Gal 6:10 | "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." | Command to prioritize doing good broadly. |
| 1 Tim 6:18-19 | "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share..." | Instructions for the wealthy on Christian conduct. |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..." | The purpose of salvation includes living a life of good deeds. |
| Tit 3:8 | "I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good." | Emphasizing devotion to good works post-faith. |
| Rom 2:6 | "God will repay each person according to what they have done." | Principle of divine judgment based on actions. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." | The basis for individual accounting before Christ. |
| Rev 20:12-13 | "The dead were judged according to what they had done..." | Judgment includes evaluation of deeds recorded in books. |
Matthew 25 verses
Matthew 25 35 Meaning
This verse initiates a core explanation within the judgment scene presented by Jesus, identifying specific acts of practical compassion that those on His right hand (the "sheep") performed. It asserts that providing food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, and welcome to the stranger is recognized and accounted for as direct service rendered to Christ Himself. This emphasizes that genuine faith and love for God are demonstrated through tangible, selfless actions towards those in vulnerability and need.
Matthew 25 35 Context
Matthew 25:35 is part of Jesus' teaching on the End Times and the Final Judgment, specifically found within the "Olivet Discourse" (Matt 24-25). This discourse immediately follows His pronouncements against Jerusalem and the temple, providing His disciples with signs of His coming and the end of the age. Chapter 25 presents three parables/illustrations concerning preparation for the Master's return: the Parable of the Ten Virgins (preparedness and vigilance), the Parable of the Talents (faithful stewardship and productive living), and finally, the Judgment of the Nations (Matt 25:31-46), often called the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.
Within this broader context, verse 35 details the criteria by which the "sheep" (those who enter eternal life) are identified. It provides tangible examples of righteous living, directly linking acts of compassion to a relationship with Jesus. Historically and culturally, ancient Middle Eastern societies placed a high value on hospitality and care for the vulnerable (widows, orphans, foreigners), viewing it as a sacred duty. The Law of Moses (Torah) extensively commanded such care (e.g., Dt 10:18-19). Jesus' teaching here underscores and deepens these traditional expectations, re-centering them on His person and divine identification with humanity's need. This was also a subtle polemic against religious leaders who might prioritize ritual adherence over practical expressions of love and mercy.
Matthew 25 35 Word analysis
- For (γάρ, gar): Connects this verse directly to the preceding judgment declaration, explaining why the sheep are blessed – because they did these things. It signals the reason or evidence.
- I (ἐγώ, egō): Emphatic personal pronoun. Jesus profoundly identifies with those in need. He doesn't just approve of charity; He receives it personally.
- was hungry (ἐπείνασα, epeinasa): Aorist tense, indicating a past state or an occasion of hunger. Implies a concrete, historical need. It highlights a fundamental human deprivation.
- and you gave me food (καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, kai edōkaté moi phagein): A direct, active, and complete response to the need. "Gave" (ἐδώκατέ, edōkaté) is aorist, emphasizing the definite act. "To eat" (φαγεῖν, phagein) defines the provision.
- I was thirsty (ἐδίψησα, edipsēsa): Another primary, universal human need, representing vulnerability. Again, aorist tense for a past condition.
- and you gave me drink (καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με, kai epotisaté me): A direct and sufficient provision to meet the thirst. "You gave me drink" (ἐποτίσατέ με, epotisaté me) signifies the act of hydrating.
- I was a stranger (ξένος ἤμην, xenos ēēn): "Stranger" (ξένος, xenos) means a foreigner, a guest, an unfamiliar person, someone without a local network or support system. This indicates vulnerability and potential exclusion.
- and you welcomed me (καὶ συνηγάγετέ με, kai synēgageté me): Literally, "and you gathered me together," "you took me in," or "you received me." This implies more than a passing nod; it means offering shelter, hospitality, security, and integration. It speaks to practical, often costly, acts of providing a safe place for the vulnerable.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "For I was hungry... and you gave me food, I was thirsty... and you gave me drink": This pairing directly connects a physical deprivation with a specific, life-sustaining action. It points to basic human needs and the most fundamental responses. These are concrete, undeniable acts of mercy.
- "I was a stranger and you welcomed me": This extends beyond basic survival to encompass social belonging and safety. "Stranger" highlights the often-marginalized and vulnerable, while "welcomed me" indicates providing a place of belonging and security, demonstrating comprehensive compassion. This was a significant act in cultures where travel and security were difficult.
- "I was... and you gave/welcomed": The repetitive structure emphasizes the personal identification of Christ ("I was...") and the direct, active, personal response of the righteous ("you gave... you welcomed"). This highlights that true faith is not passive but leads to demonstrable acts of love.
Matthew 25 35 Bonus section
The concept of Christ identifying with "the least of these" (Matt 25:40) is central to this verse's understanding. While some interpretations limit "the least of these brothers" to fellow Christians, a broader and widely accepted view includes anyone who is vulnerable, marginalized, or in desperate need, reflecting the universal scope of Christ's love and the Church's call to embody it for all humanity. The specific examples—hungry, thirsty, stranger—are fundamental human conditions that transcend religious or social affiliations, indicating a broad scope for Christian compassion. This verse also provides a potent challenge to superficial piety, emphasizing that what we do (or fail to do) for others reflects the reality of our relationship with Christ, thus connecting eschatological judgment with present ethical living.
Matthew 25 35 Commentary
Matthew 25:35, integral to Jesus' final judgment scene, unveils a profound theological truth: acts of practical mercy towards the most vulnerable are regarded as direct service to Christ Himself. It illustrates that genuine faith is active, translating compassion into concrete assistance for basic human needs: food, water, and shelter. This passage doesn't suggest that these actions earn salvation, but rather that they are an outward demonstration of a heart transformed by God's love. They reveal an inward alignment with Christ's kingdom values and a true understanding of His identification with suffering humanity. The judgment is not based on intellectual assent, but on the fruit of active love for God expressed through love for neighbor, particularly "the least of these." These simple, everyday acts become profoundly spiritual, forming the very essence of true discipleship and highlighting that love for God and love for others are inextricably linked.
Practical Examples:
- Hunger/Food: Organizing food drives, volunteering at soup kitchens, or sharing a meal with a person in need.
- Thirst/Drink: Providing water bottles to homeless individuals, supporting clean water initiatives in impoverished regions.
- Stranger/Welcome: Inviting new neighbors to share a meal, offering hospitality to international students, sponsoring refugees, or providing assistance to newcomers in your community.