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NASB | Matthew 25:40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 25:40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.' [Prov 19:17] |
Bible Question:
Thanks for the response. I am well aware that the conclusions I have reached about this passage fall outside of conventional interpretation. However, conventional interpretation of this passage has bothered me for years. Why is it that when people read this passage, they assume "the least of these" must be someone else? In order to decide that somone else is "the least" one must declare one self above that person. That goes against everything Jesus had been teaching up to that point. Besides, the world is so full of good-deed-doers. There is no way that the goats, when the time comes, will be standing before God with no acts of charity to show Him. No, they will be quite confident, perhaps even insulted, just like that Pharisee in the temple. But are they ever in for a shock when they find out that acts of charity are not what God was seeking. I pomise you, I am the least among men. Thanks again. |
Bible Answer: God's day to you, R D Miller, I believe "the least" refers to those who have no ability to repay. It is easy to invite the well-to-to ... feed them, give them water, give them clothes, visit them. But when we do so to those who live on the street, the down-and-outers, with no thought of reward, here and now, or later ... we also should not look down on them, but lift them up, look them in the eye, with the love of our Lord. Searcher |