Matthew 25:38 kjv
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Matthew 25:38 nkjv
When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
Matthew 25:38 niv
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
Matthew 25:38 esv
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
Matthew 25:38 nlt
Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
Matthew 25 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 25:40 | “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” | Directly follows and explains 25:38; serving the needy is serving Christ. |
| Prov 19:17 | "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed." | Blessings for aiding the poor. |
| Matt 10:42 | "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” | Small acts of kindness to disciples are recognized by Christ. |
| Heb 13:2 | "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." | Exhortation to hospitality; unconscious service. |
| James 2:15-16 | "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" | Faith without works of love is dead. |
| 1 John 3:17-18 | "But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or talk but with action and in truth." | Love must be practical and actionable. |
| Luke 10:30-37 | The Parable of the Good Samaritan: describes true neighborly love through compassionate action towards a stranger in need. | Defines "neighbor" as anyone needing mercy; emphasizes action. |
| Luke 14:13-14 | "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind... and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” | Serving those who cannot repay, promising heavenly reward. |
| Isa 58:6-7 | "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness... to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him...?" | True worship involves acts of justice and compassion. |
| Micah 6:8 | "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" | The Lord's requirement includes loving kindness. |
| Zech 7:9-10 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor..." | Divine command for justice and mercy towards vulnerable groups. |
| Col 3:12 | "Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." | Exhortation to live with compassion as believers. |
| 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." | Doing good to all, particularly fellow believers. |
| Rom 12:13 | "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." | Practical care for believers and general hospitality. |
| 1 Pet 4:9 | "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." | Specific command for hospitality. |
| Job 31:19-20 | "If I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or a poor man without covering... if his heart has not blessed me for my warmth from the fleece of my sheep..." | Job's righteousness included clothing the naked. |
| Eze 18:7 | "does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment..." | Description of a righteous person's actions. |
| Rom 2:6 | "He will render to each one according to his works." | God's judgment is based on deeds. |
| Rev 20:12-13 | "...and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done... and all were judged by what they had done.” | Judgment according to deeds at the final judgment. |
| Matt 22:37-39 | "You shall love the Lord your God... You shall love your neighbor as yourself." | The two greatest commandments, underscoring the foundation of deeds of mercy. |
| Heb 2:17-18 | "Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest... For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." | Christ's identification with humanity's struggles. |
Matthew 25 verses
Matthew 25 38 Meaning
Matthew 25:38 captures the bewildered response of the righteous (the "sheep") at the final judgment. Having performed acts of compassion for the needy, they are surprised when the King, Jesus, declares that these deeds were in fact done directly for Him. The verse specifically questions: "When did we see You as a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You?" This highlights that their service was not rendered with a direct, conscious recognition of Christ in the individual, but out of genuine, humble love and compassion for fellow human beings in need. It underscores Christ's profound identification with the suffering and marginalized, revealing that authentic faith is demonstrated through practical, selfless love for one's neighbor.
Matthew 25 38 Context
Matthew 25:38 is a pivotal part of the "Parable of the Sheep and the Goats" (Matt 25:31-46), which immediately follows the "Parable of the Ten Virgins" and the "Parable of the Talents" within Jesus' Olivet Discourse (Matthew chapters 24-25). This discourse provides prophetic teachings about the end times, Jesus' second coming, and the final judgment. In the immediate context, Jesus describes the grand scene of the Son of Man returning in glory, separating humanity into "sheep" (the righteous) and "goats" (the unrighteous). The verse captures the surprised question from the "sheep," who are blessed by the King for having shown Him acts of mercy and care, despite their unawareness that their service to the "least of these" was service to Christ himself. This highlights that the final judgment is not based merely on theological assent but on the tangible manifestation of faith through love and compassion for others.
Culturally, hospitality towards strangers was a foundational virtue in the ancient Near East, reflecting the belief that one could unknowingly host divine messengers or angels (Gen 18:1-8, 19:1-3; Heb 13:2). To be "naked" in this context did not just mean a lack of clothing but often signified destitution, extreme poverty, and complete vulnerability without societal support. Jesus' emphasis on caring for "strangers" and "the naked" aligns with the Mosaic Law's commands to care for the vulnerable – widows, orphans, and sojourners – reflecting the heart of God. The surprise of the righteous also implicitly critiques any form of religious practice that might focus solely on ritual or doctrinal purity while neglecting practical charity and love, suggesting that true righteousness is characterized by genuine compassion without expectation of direct reward.
Matthew 25 38 Word analysis
- Or (καὶ – kai): Connects the two questions, showing parallel instances of charitable acts.
- when (πότε – pote): Interrogative adverb, expressing inquiry about the time or occasion, highlighting the surprise and unawareness of the righteous. It emphasizes their lack of conscious intent to serve Jesus directly in these specific acts.
- saw we (εἴδομεν – eidomen): From 'horao' (to see, perceive). "We saw" underlines the communal aspect of their astonishment. They were genuinely unaware of having encountered Christ in these specific forms. This emphasizes humility rather than boasting.
- thee (σε – se): Pronoun, refers to Jesus, the King/Son of Man. This direct address from the "sheep" shows their awe and respect, while their question shows they cannot reconcile the King before them with the vulnerable individuals they served. This highlights Jesus' profound and mysterious identification with humanity, especially the suffering.
- an stranger (ξένον – xenon): "A guest, foreigner, alien, one who is not of one's own people." Implies someone displaced, vulnerable, and in need of welcome and protection. In ancient societies, hospitality to strangers was a profound moral and social duty, as strangers often had no local support system.
- and clothed thee? (καὶ περιεβάλομεν – kai periebalomen): "And we clothed, dressed, put clothes on." For "stranger," this implies welcoming and providing for their needs, which could include clothing, shelter, and food, all aspects of hospitality. In the context of "naked," it's explicitly about providing garments. This phrase points to meeting a fundamental, dire need for covering and dignity.
- or (ἢ – ē): A disjunctive conjunction, separating the categories of need and compassionate action.
- naked (γυμνόν – gymnon): "Naked, poorly clothed, scantily clad; in a figurative sense, open, manifest." Denotes extreme poverty, lack of basic necessities, and profound vulnerability. Clothing provided not just warmth and covering but also dignity and protection from shame.
- and clothed thee? (καὶ περιεβάλομεν – kai periebalomen): Repetition emphasizes the specific act of providing garments. It underscores a practical response to a severe state of destitution.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Or when saw we thee an stranger, and clothed thee?": This phrase highlights the surprise concerning hospitality to the displaced or alienated. The "clothed thee" here (or "welcomed you" in other translations like ESV) encompasses the broad care for a guest, providing shelter, food, and basic necessities, not just literal garments. The righteous didn't perceive these vulnerable individuals as Christ himself.
- "or naked, and clothed thee?": This phrase focuses specifically on meeting a fundamental human need: providing clothing for those in extreme destitution. It speaks to providing dignity, warmth, and protection, essential for survival and societal participation. Both instances underline practical, physical acts of mercy performed without direct knowledge that it was for Christ.
Matthew 25 38 Bonus section
The bewildered questions of the righteous (Matthew 25:37-39) are key to understanding the profundity of Christ's teaching. Their "when did we see you...?" is not feigned humility, but genuine astonishment, showcasing that their compassion flowed organically, not calculatedly, implying a deeper disposition of their hearts. This differentiates them sharply from the goats, whose judgment comes from an active lack of these very deeds (Matt 25:41-43), highlighting sins of omission. The passage challenges the notion that salvation is merely intellectual assent or ritualistic performance, firmly rooting it in transformative love expressed through actions. This teaching has profound implications for understanding the final judgment: it underscores that love for God and love for neighbor are intrinsically linked, where service to one inevitably becomes service to the other.
Matthew 25 38 Commentary
Matthew 25:38 beautifully captures the essence of true Christian service: a love for humanity that flows from a heart shaped by God's love, expressed through tangible acts of mercy for the vulnerable, often without conscious awareness that these acts are rendered directly to Christ. The surprise of the righteous reveals their humility; their good deeds were not self-serving or aimed at accumulating heavenly credit. Instead, their actions were an intrinsic outflow of their compassionate character, born of genuine care for others. This verse powerfully conveys Christ's radical identification with the poor, the marginalized, and the suffering ("the least of these"), declaring that when we serve them, we are, in essence, serving Him. It's a reminder that genuine faith isn't merely intellectual assent but actively demonstrates love through practical works of mercy, revealing the authentic nature of a relationship with God. For example, welcoming a refugee family (stranger), or donating warm clothes to a homeless shelter (naked), embodies this spirit of serving Christ indirectly through compassionate action for our fellow human beings.