Matthew 25:37 kjv
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Matthew 25:37 nkjv
"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
Matthew 25:37 niv
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Matthew 25:37 esv
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
Matthew 25:37 nlt
"Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Matthew 25 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 10:42 | "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water... will by no means lose his reward." | Rewards for caring for Christ's humble servants. |
| Jas 2:15-17 | "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says... "Go in peace," but does not give them the things needed... What good is that?" | Faith without works is dead. |
| 1 Jn 3:17-18 | "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need... how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." | Love is demonstrated through action. |
| Heb 13:2 | "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." | Showing hospitality to others. |
| Prov 19:17 | "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." | Caring for the poor is lending to God. |
| Gal 6:10 | "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." | Do good to all, especially believers. |
| Isa 58:7 | "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him...?" | Practical acts of justice and mercy. |
| Ezek 18:7,16 | Listing righteous acts, including feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. | Righteous acts include physical care. |
| Rom 13:10 | "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." | Love fulfills God's law. |
| Lk 17:10 | "So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’" | Humility in service, acknowledging duty. |
| Acts 9:4-5 | "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? ...I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." | Jesus identifies with His persecuted followers. |
| Col 1:24 | "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions..." | Believer's suffering for Christ. |
| Php 2:4 | "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." | Selfless consideration of others. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." | Giving willingly from the heart. |
| Lk 10:30-37 | Parable of the Good Samaritan: demonstrating love through practical help for a stranger in need. | Compassionate action beyond social boundaries. |
| Mt 5:16 | "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." | Good works bring glory to God, not self. |
| Tit 3:8 | "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works." | Believers should be devoted to good works. |
| Rom 2:6-7 | "He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life." | Judgment involves accounting for works. |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." | Believers are created for good works. |
| Mt 25:34 | "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you..." | Inheritance for the righteous (context). |
Matthew 25 verses
Matthew 25 37 Meaning
The verse captures the genuine surprise and humble questioning of the righteous, who have just been declared by the King (Jesus) as those who demonstrated compassion and care for Him. Their response, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?", indicates that their acts of kindness were so natural and intrinsic to their transformed character that they were unaware of having directly served the Lord Himself in these specific ways. It highlights that their good deeds flowed from a selfless heart, without expectation of recognition or reward from the King, much less direct awareness of serving Him personally.
Matthew 25 37 Context
Matthew 25:37 is an integral part of Jesus' teaching on the Last Judgment, specifically within the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Mt 25:31-46). This passage immediately follows the parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents, forming the final part of Jesus' eschatological discourse on the Mount of Olives concerning His second coming and the end of the age. In this scenario, Jesus portrays Himself as the King who will sit on His glorious throne, separating humanity into two groups: the righteous "sheep" and the unrighteous "goats." The King praises the "sheep" for specific acts of charity and compassion: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. The surprise expressed by the righteous in verse 37 sets the stage for the King's profound revelation in verse 40, where He states that whatever they did "for one of the least of these my brothers," they did for Him. This highlights that true righteousness is not merely about profession of faith but about active, compassionate service to others, understood as service to Christ Himself. The cultural context emphasizes the importance of hospitality and caring for vulnerable members of society, principles deeply rooted in Jewish law and prophetic teaching.
Matthew 25 37 Word analysis
- Then (Τότε - tote): This Greek adverb denotes a specific point in time or sequence, indicating a response to what the King has just declared (in Matthew 25:34-36). It signifies the precise moment when the righteous, called upon by the King, articulate their honest perplexity.
- the righteous (οἱ δίκαιοι - hoi dikaioi): In Greek, this plural masculine nominative term refers to those who are "just," "upright," or "vindicated." Biblically, it refers not to those who achieve perfect moral flawlesshess by their own effort, but to those declared righteous by God through faith, whose lives then demonstrate obedience and conformity to God's will. Their designation as "righteous" precedes their question, suggesting that their deeds are a fruit of their nature.
- will answer (ἀποκριθήσονται - apokrithēsontai): This verb is in the future tense, signaling a future event during the final judgment. It is in the passive voice, or sometimes interpreted as middle voice, emphasizing that they are responding to an external declaration, perhaps highlighting their humble lack of initiative in seeking this commendation.
- him (αὐτῷ - autō): This refers directly to "the King" (Jesus) mentioned in the preceding verses. The personal pronoun emphasizes the direct, face-to-face interaction at the final judgment.
- Lord (Κύριε - Kyrie): A vocative of respect and address. It acknowledges Jesus' sovereignty and authority. Their use of "Lord" demonstrates a recognition of His rightful position, contrasting with the implication of their unawareness in having served Him directly.
- when (Πότε - Pote): An interrogative adverb expressing surprise regarding the time of these actions. It's a genuine question, indicating they were not consciously performing these acts for Jesus personally at the time, nor for recognition. This conveys their humility and absence of self-seeking in their service.
- did we see (εἴδομέν - eidomen): The aorist active indicative emphasizes the completed action of seeing. Their question points to a memory search, genuinely failing to recall specific instances where they physically saw the King in such a state.
- you (σε - se): Direct object. The emphasis is on them seeing Him directly in a state of need, which they don't recall.
- hungry (πεινῶντα - peinōnta): Present active participle, describing the King's state. It denotes an ongoing condition of need. In Greek thought, hunger represents fundamental human vulnerability and need.
- and feed you (καὶ ἐθρέψαμεν - kai ethrepsamen): The conjunction "and" links the act of seeing with the subsequent act of nourishment. "Feed" (θρέφω) implies providing sustenance, often encompassing care beyond just food.
- or thirsty (ἢ διψῶντα - ē dipsōnta): Conjunction "or" introduces another instance of need. "Thirsty" also a present active participle, describing a basic human necessity, and reflecting profound vulnerability.
- and give you something to drink (καὶ ἐποτίσαμεν - kai epotisamen): Another concrete act of meeting a basic human need, demonstrating practical compassion.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Then the righteous will answer him: This sets the scene for the interaction between the sovereign King and those found justified, emphasizing their position as responders to His divine proclamation, not initiators of the discussion.
- 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?': This entire phrase is an exclamation of sincere astonishment. It encapsulates the core message of humility and altruistic service—their acts were so naturally woven into the fabric of their lives, and performed for those perceived as "others," that they held no expectation or memory of these deeds counting as direct service to their Lord. It highlights a genuine lack of self-awareness concerning their own meritorious deeds in relation to Christ.
Matthew 25 37 Bonus section
The astonishment of the righteous is a key theological point, distinguishing them from those who might perform good deeds with conscious calculation or self-promotion. This honest perplexity underscores that their motivation was pure, lacking any desire for commendation or awareness of having performed an act of specific service to the Divine King. It is a powerful affirmation that a transformed life leads to good works as a natural overflow, not as a means to earn salvation or divine favor. The passage challenges any notion that entry into the kingdom is solely about doctrinal assent without tangible expressions of love and mercy. The simple acts of addressing basic human needs—hunger, thirst, hospitality—are elevated to supreme importance because Christ identifies Himself with "the least of these." Their "forgetfulness" is thus a testament to their true character.
Matthew 25 37 Commentary
Matthew 25:37 presents the authentic, unfeigned surprise of the righteous at the King's commendation. This surprise is central to understanding the nature of true righteousness. Their question reveals that their acts of kindness—feeding the hungry or giving drink to the thirsty—were not calculated actions performed for personal gain or divine recognition, nor were they directly aimed at Jesus Himself in a tangible form. Instead, these deeds sprang from a heart transformed by genuine love and compassion, extended simply to those in need, without thought of recompense or credit. Their service was a spontaneous outpouring of their regenerated nature, reflecting God's love without seeking a spotlight for their efforts. It implies that true godliness manifests as humble, active benevolence, deeply woven into one's life such that good deeds become instinctive, not an imposition or a performance. The profound lesson here is that authentic faith is inherently active and altruistic, recognizing Christ in the marginalized, and ministering to them unconsciously as if ministering to Him.
Example: A Christian regularly volunteering at a local homeless shelter, serving meals and offering companionship, not to gain favor with God or others, but purely out of love for their neighbors. They are living out this truth, often without consciously thinking, "I am serving Jesus."