Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 Vs. 40

 The Final Judgment

Matthew 25:40 “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.”

Inasmuch as ye... The reason and basis of the judgment of the nations. God will curse or bless according to how men have dealt with Israel. He will forever respect and fulfill the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:1-3).

unto one of... This refers in particular to other disciples. Some would apply this to national Israel, others to needy people in general. But here Christ is specifically commending those on His right (verse 34), for the way they received His emissaries.

the least

The word in the Greek order is emphatic: One of these my brethren, the least. So Rev., even these least.

my brethren, ye... The brethren of Jesus according to the flesh (Mat. 10:6; John 1:11; Rom. 9:5).

You see, when we do anything to help someone else, Jesus counts it as we are doing these things for Him. We cannot directly do these things for Him, but everything, regardless of how small it is, that we do for our fellowman is counted as being done for Jesus. God really smiles on those who help women and children who cannot help themselves.

We read love your neighbor as yourself. This is not a principle that the world understands. But besides getting a reward stored up in heaven for the good things we do, doing good makes you feel good about yourself.

It is true that the preceding parables have each given a partial view of the judgment, -the first as affecting those in office in the Church, the second and third as applied to the members of the Church; but just as those specially contemplated in the first parable are included in the wider scope of the second and third, so these contemplated in the second and third are included in the universal scope of the great judgment scene with which the whole discourse is fitly and grandly concluded.

The King will answer that they performed these services for the least of these brothers of Mine, and by so doing were ministering to the King (Mat. 25:40).

The expression these brothers must refer to a third group that is neither sheep nor goats. The only possible group would be Jews, physical brothers of the Lord. In view of the distress in the Tribulation period, it is clear that any believing Jew will have a difficult time surviving (cf. Mat. 24:15-21). The forces of the world dictator will be doing everything possible to exterminate all Jews (cf. Rev. 12:17). A Gentile going out of his way to assist a Jew in the Tribulation will mean that Gentile has become a believer in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation. By such a stand and action, a believing Gentile will put his life in jeopardy. His works will not save him; but his works will reveal that he is redeemed. Known as tribulation saints.