Who are the least of these?

Question: In reading about the sheep and the goats, who are the "least of these my children?" Are they the person in need, or are they the sheep and the goats?

Answer: When trying to understand any passage of Scripture, it is important to approach it with logic and common sense. You can do that by asking a few simple questions.

Who is talking?
Who are they talking to?
What are they talking about?
When are they talking?

In Matthew Chapter 25, the person talking is Jesus. He is teaching His disciples (Matthew 24:3-4) about the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 25:1) and what it will be like on the Day of Judgment (Matthew 25:31). He was teaching this two days before his crucifixion (Matthew 26:1-2). Now we have answered our four questions. Let’s answer the question of “who are the least of these” from the context. Look at Matthew 25:31-46.

In Matthew 8:20, 9:6, 12:8 & 12:40, Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of Man.” It was a common phrase used in the Old Testament many times to refer to a prophet. Ezekiel gives us the best example, because he is called “Son of Man” 94 times in his book. The Jews would have understood it to refer to Jesus as a prophet. So when Jesus talks about the Son of Man in his glory, on His throne and judging sheep from goats, He is referring to Himself.

In Matthew 13:41 Jesus had already told them, “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.” Therefore, the disciples heard before that Jesus would some day separate and judge the people of the earth.

Then, in verses 34-36 of Chapter 25, Jesus explains that the righteous sheep are those who: fed Jesus when He was hungry, gave a drink to Him when He was thirsty, welcomed Him when He was a stranger, clothed Him when He was naked, looked after Him when He was sick, and visited Him when He was in prison.

In verses 37-39, the righteous were confused and ask Jesus when they had ever seen Him in such a condition and helped. He then gives this convicting answer, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

So the question is, “Who are ‘the least of these?’”

Some say that “the least of these” are the disciples and what we do with their doctrine contained in the Scriptures is what we do to Jesus. Now certainly it is true, we will be judged based upon our acceptance or rejection of the Word of God (John 12:48). However, I don’t believe that is what He is talking about in Matthew 25. There is no indication in this passage or context, that we should narrowly define “the least of these” as only the 12 disciples. Certainly, the disciples are included in “the least of these” but there is nothing to indicate we should think it refers only to them.

I don't believe this is true of the person who asked this question, but it seems many people want to narrowly define who “the least of these” are to justify the fact that they are not taking care of the kind of people described in this passage. Remember the time an expert in the Law asked Jesus what to do to have eternal life. And Jesus asked him what he thought he had to do. In Luke10:27-29 He quoted from the Old Law and answered "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Jesus goes on to tell the story of the Good Samaritan who took care of a man who was his enemy. Jesus defined loving your neighbor as loving your enemy. The expert in the Law wanted to define neighbor in such a way as to justify not loving his fellow man. I fear that many today want to justify not caring for “the least of these” by narrowly defining them as the apostles only or another narrowly defined group.

Look again at Matthew 25:40, "The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Jesus does refer to them as “the least of these brothers of mine.” So we at least know that he means all Christians. All of us, who are of the brotherhood of believers are referred to here. Jesus had said earlier in Matthew 12:50, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Therefore passage is referring to what we do to “the least of these,” our fellow Christians at the least, if not the least of everyone in the world.

I believe Jesus is referring to everyone in this passage, however. First because when He condemns the goats for what they didn’t do, He does not include the statement about the brothers. He says in Matthew 25: 45 “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Jesus doesn’t narrowly define it as only brothers, so neither will I. Secondly, I remember the verse in Galatians 6:10 which says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” This is what I take from the “least of these my brothers.” We should be caring for the needs of all people as the opportunity arises but especially the family of believers.

The question arises, were the “least of these” only Christians whom we should be ministering to in their hour of need or should we be ministering to all people and especially Christians. I think the latter fits better with other verses. Considering the consequences in Matthew Chapter 25 of being wrong, I think it is wise to error on the side of caution in this case. Did Jesus come only to love, serve and sacrifice for believers, or did he come to minister to unbelievers that they might find faith and salvation? Did He come for the sick or the healthy? (Mark 2:17) I believe “the least of these” is anyone in need.

And don’t forget, it is the ones the world forget, despise, and reject., those who have nothing to offer back, these are the ones loved by God and who should be served by His people. I believe what we do to anyone who is hungry is what we do to Jesus. What we do to those who need a drink, is what we do to Jesus. What we do the stranger or foreigner is what we do to Jesus. What we do for the person who has no clothes is what we do for Jesus. What we do for the sick is what we do for Jesus. What we do for the person in prison is what we do for Jesus.

What we do for those helpless, hopeless people in need, the least, the worst, the lost, that is what we do for Jesus. That means we need to stop trying to narrowly define who our “neighbor” is or who “the least of these” are and get out and start serving the community in the name of Christ. James 1:27 reminds us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

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