Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
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:
I believe this verse may be mistranslated and the passage Matt 25:31-46 is misinterpeted in many different ways by many conventional interpretations. I believe the passage is not about charity at all nor is it about how the sheep vs the goats treated believers. I believe this passage is about how we present ourselves to God. When the goats say: 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' They are not saying, "Lord, We didn't recognize you. Thats why we didn't take care of you." They are actually saying, "Lord, we did all of those things. Didn't you see us?" The goats are responding to Jesus with contempt, not curiosity, or amazement. Just like the Pharisee in Luke 18:12...'I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' Jesus told that story (the Pharisee and the tax collector) "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else." vs. 9 I believe Matt 25: 31-46 also describes those confident of their own righteousness (the goats). Therefore I believe "the least of these" refers not to the poor or believers but to every person who will stand before God. And what divides the sheep from the goats is not how we responded to "the least of these" but whether we are willing to declare ourselves, individually, the "least of these." Thanks for making this discussion board available. |
Bible Answer: Dear RD Miller Mat 25:40 40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the (LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN), ye have done it unto me. The use of the word brethren, is brothers. Mat 25:45 45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the (LEAST OF THESE) ye did it not to me. The use of the term least of these, refers back to the first statement in vs. 40 with brethren. in the Greek, (least) - - figuratively - - in dignity (these) - - persons or things (my) - - mine (own), my. (brethren) - - a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote Your question is: Who are "the least of these?" Read it for what it says, don't try to complicate it, or find some hidden meaning where there is none. In an attempt to see things, scripture clearly does not say, we then start to question the very validity of scripture itself. We are also heading into the direction of deception because we begin with the premise, I believe this to be mistranslated, or misinterpreted. That kind of a viewpoint is questioning the very validity of the Inspired Word of God. Coming to conclusions without investigating whether or not there are other places that say the same thing is categorically the wrong way to read the bible. Having said that. 1Jn 3:17 17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his (BROTHER) have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? This therefore is the position of the Christian, towards other Christians. Notice the use of the word (BROTHER), denoting close kin, which differs from (NEIGHBOR) denoting Everyman. Rom 12:10 10) Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Gal 6:10 10) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. It is understood, sheep are saved. We therefore, knowing to do good, should be examples of Christ to the world. If we do these things as Christ is in us, Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee? It should be so deeply ingrained in our nature to do such things, that they will become common place in our lives, where we will not be aware of our good deeds. It is understood, goats are unsaved. Doing good is not in the nature of the unsaved, to the contrary, the nature of the unsaved is to look out for themselves. We live in a world where Christians are looked at as worthless, the same way the Jews looked at Gentiles. So then, we have become "The Least Of These" to the world. We represent Christ to the world, anything which is done for us, is as if it was done for Jesus. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee? Having done nothing, they condemn themselves. Blessings in Christ YenIsaRap |