Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 Vs. 44

 The Final Judgment

Matthew 25:44 “Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?”

Then shall they... As well as the righteous, being likewise astonished at what he had said, but on a different account.

when saw we... Saying, Lord, when did we see thee an hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Question 151. Next, Mat. 26:8.

Hence it is clear again, that these men were nominal Christians, who had made a profession of Christ: they own him as Lord; and suggest that they had seen him, and known him, though never in such circumstances.

For if they had, such was their love to him, and great respect and veneration for him, as they pretend, they would, to be sure, have ministered unto him; and if ever they had seen him in such a case, which they could not call to mind, they could not believe, but they must have supplied him with all things necessary and convenient.

You see, they too never saw Jesus in person, so they did not understand this statement. This is the picture of a very selfish person. Someone who has no feeling for the infirmities of others. This person lives just for himself, not caring what destitute condition their neighbors are in.

This person is caught up in self and has gone so far as to make a God of Himself alone. What a pitiful sight. Then in the next verse, Jesus told them of their error.

While there is no encouragement here for those who hope to make up for the rejection of Christ by deeds of kindness to poor people, there is abundant room left for the acceptance at the last of those who had no means of knowing Christ, . but who showed by their treatment of their fellowmen in distress that the spirit of Christ was in them. To such the King will be no stranger when they shall see Him on the throne; nor will they be strangers to Him. He will recognize them as His own; and they will recognize Him as the very King of Love for Whom their souls were longing, but Who not till now has been revealed to their delighted gaze. To all such will the gracious words be spoken Come, ye blessed of My Father; but they too, as well as all the rest, will be received not on the ground of works as distinguished from faith, but on the ground of a real though implicit faith which worked by love and which was only waiting for the revelation of their King and Lord to make it explicit, to bring it out to light.

In this extended prophetic sermon, Jesus answered His disciples’ questions about the sign of His coming and the end of the Age (Mat. 24:4-31). He also presented practical lessons for those who will be living at that time (Mat. 24:32-51), encouraging them to faithfulness, watchfulness, and preparedness.