Devine Scripture

Matthew 25:44

What does Matthew 25:44 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 25:44 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 25:44 means

Like the righteous, those on the King's left hand also express surprise, asking, "Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?" Their questions demonstrate their self-deception; they did not recognize Christ in the suffering and needy. This reveals they operated without true and active compassion, and perhaps thought their religious outwardness was sufficient, without understanding that genuine faith is evidenced by love for others. Their surprise highlights their spiritual blindness and lack of true understanding.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then will they make answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you in need of food or drink, or wandering, or without clothing, or ill, or in prison, and did not take care of you?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Then shall they answer, they also, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or infirm, or in prison, and we did not minister to thee?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to thee?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Then shall they also answer saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and have not ministered to thee?

Context

This verse captures the bewildered response of those on the King's left hand, mirroring the surprise of the righteous but for a far more ominous reason. It immediately follows the enumeration of their failures in verses 42-43. Their questioning confirms their ignorance of having neglected Christ, serving as a critical setup for the King's profound and condemning recapitulation in the subsequent verse, solidifying the basis of their judgment.

v.43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

v.44This passage

v.45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Jeremiah 2:23

    How canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

  • Matthew 7:22

    Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?

  • Malachi 3:13

    Your words have been stout against me, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, What have we spoken against thee?

  • 1 Samuel 15:20

    And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of Jehovah, and have gone the way which Jehovah sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

  • Malachi 1:6

    A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

  • Luke 10:29

    But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

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