Matthew 25:35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Sometimes He draws comparisons among equals, as seen in the parable of the virgins, and other times from the greater, such as when He states, "The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment against this generation and will condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and will condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here" (Matthew 12:41-42). Similarly, He says, "They will be your judges" (Matthew 12:27) and again, "Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?" (1 Corinthians 6:3). In this particular instance, Christ draws comparisons between the rich and the rich, and the poor and the poor. He justifies His judgment against the condemned, not solely by referencing those in similar positions who fulfilled their duties, but also highlighting that the condemned were disobedient even when poverty was not an impediment—for example, in their failure to give drink to the thirsty, visit the prisoner, or care for the sick. After commending those who acted with love, the Saviour reveals His eternal affection for them: "Come," He says, "you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." What could compare to such a designation as "blessed," especially "blessed of the Father"? What accounts for such honor? "For I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink," and so forth. The weight of honor and blessedness is profound in these declarations! He doesn't merely command, "receive," but rather, "inherit," as something belonging to you, as your father's estate, everlasting and prepared for you even before you existed, for I knew you would be among those who would respond.

What do they receive this reward for? For providing shelter, clothing, food, cold water, visiting the sick, and reaching out to the imprisoned. He asks of us not only what is essential but at times goes beyond the necessary; for as I mentioned, the sick and imprisoned not only need visitation but also, one expects, to be freed from their afflictions. However, the Lord, in His mercy, asks from us what we are capable of doing and often calls us to strive for even more. To those facing condemnation, He declares, "Depart from Me, you cursed," not from the Father, for He is not the one who condemns, but rather their actions do. "Into the everlasting fire prepared," not for you, but "for the devil and his angels." When He discusses the kingdom, He invites: "Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom," indicating it was "prepared for you from the foundation of the world"; yet regarding the fire, He does not say the same, but specifies it is "prepared for the devil." "I prepared a kingdom for you," He states, "but the fire is not for you; it is designated for the devil and his angels." Yet, having chosen willingly to cast yourselves into the fire, you have only yourselves to blame. Not only in these words, but also in what follows, He seeks to clarify their condemnation: "For I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat" (Matthew 25:42). Even if an enemy had approached, would not their plight have been enough to soften the heart of even the most unyielding? Hunger, cold, imprisonment, nakedness, illness, and homelessness—such sufferings should compel compassion. However, you failed to act toward a friend—your benefactor and Master. We can be moved to kindness at the sight of a starving dog or suffering beast, yet when your Master is in need, you do not respond? Can such disregard be justified? If that were all, would that not be sufficient for reward? I do not claim that your kindness guarantees you a joyful proclamation from the Father on the throne, leading to a kingdom; yet the very act of kindness should merit recognition. Thus, at the unveiling of this unimaginable glory, the Lord Himself acknowledges and crowns you, recognizing you as a caregiver and visitor, and is unashamed to do so, further enhancing the splendor of your crown. Therefore, the unjust are rightly punished, while the righteous are adorned with grace; though they may have offered countless deeds of kindness, the reward they receive for such small acts—heaven, the kingdom, and immense honor—comes as gifts of divine grace.

Take note that He emphasizes love for one's neighbor, as it is this alone by which He grants rewards to the righteous and metes out punishment to the sinful. This does not imply that He will overlook the other virtuous deeds of the righteous or disregard the sins of the unrighteous; instead, He will scrutinize the actions, words, and thoughts of all, as frequently revealed in His teachings and various passages of Scripture. He will indeed reward good deeds and punish wrongdoing, yet here He focuses on love for one’s neighbor, underscoring its utmost importance, especially for Christians.

The hallmark of every Christian is love, as He states, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). According to Gregory the Theologian, the essence of this love is charity and compassion toward the poor. Nothing glorifies God more than mercy, and nothing rewards the one who shows humanity like the act of loving others. He highlights this supreme virtue, cautioning us and encouraging our merciful conduct, for we shall require His mercy in due time. The just reward for those who show no mercy is a lack of mercy in return, while the merciful will receive mercy.

As the embodiment of mercy, He grants substantial rewards for even minor acts of kindness. He demands compassion only from those capable of giving it, and for those unable, the mere intention to do so suffices. He outlines different manifestations of compassion, urging us to fulfill all that we can, or at the very least, those acts that are within our reach.

Wear the mantle of immortality, embellishing yourself with good works; and whatever task you receive from God, undertake it earnestly, viewing it as an opportunity for divine correction. If you are entrusted with possessions, steward them as you ought; if your role is to instruct others, do so diligently. Are you capable of leading souls to God through your words? Proceed with care in these matters. We face numerous opportunities to serve faithfully; may those among us who are struggling not be cast aside, but instead, may we confidently approach our eternal King, Christ, who reigns forevermore. For He is the judge of both the living and the dead, who sacrificed Himself for our sake, and as Paul states, "For this cause Christ both died and came to life, that He might possess both the dead and the living" (Rom. 14:9).

The Lord does not hunger for Himself but through His saints; He does not thirst for Himself but through His impoverished ones. The Lord is not naked in Himself—He envelops all in garments—yet He is identified as such through His servants. He does not suffer illness in Himself—He can heal all afflictions and vanquish death—but experiences it through His servants. The Lord does not wander in Himself—He possesses both heaven and earth—yet does so through His servants. Even in prison, the Lord does not find Himself imprisoned—He has the power to liberate anyone from suffering—but is confined in His saints. Notice, dear ones, that the saints are not solely for themselves: as they bear these trials for the sake of the Lord, so the Lord shares in their burdens for their sake.

Grace will also present the shepherds of the church to Christ, those who have imparted the everlasting nourishment of the Scriptures, clothed sinners with the virtues of righteousness, provided spiritual healing to troubled souls, and patiently uplifted those trapped in the darkness of disbelief or error. Grace will acknowledge the humble monks who have grasped the profound presence of Christ within, who yearn for the truth of the Gospel, who strive to adorn themselves with holiness, and who have purified their hearts from worldly desires, gaining the liberation that the Gospel offers. Additionally, mercy will be extended before Christ for those who could muster only self-compassion, undertaking self-examination to break free from poverty, sickness, and the prison of sin through repentance. The individual able to practice self-compassion, creating this mercy by nourishing his soul with the Word of God and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, drawing it away from destructive paths of sin into the realm of godliness, and clothe it with righteous acts—he will be acknowledged by the Lord Jesus Christ for these deeds. He will present all who have pursued mercy to Christ, seeking forgiveness and eternal joy for them. “Come,” He will declare, “blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For when I was hungry, you fed Me; when I was thirsty, you gave Me drink; when I was a stranger, you welcomed Me. I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you gave Me your company. Truly, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of My brothers, you did for Me” (Matthew 25:40).

Those who proclaim righteousness embody Christ by clothing the spiritually poor, those lacking the attire of righteousness. It is written, Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, charity, kindness, goodness, humility, gentleness, longsuffering (Colossians 3:12). They also put on Christ and baptize individuals into Him, as it is stated: All ye that were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27).

This preparation of a kingdom for humanity since the world's creation emphasizes the royal honor and status bestowed upon humanity above all other earthly beings. The righteous Judge, seated on the throne of glory, calls forth, "inherit the kingdom that I have established for you since the beginning of time." Upon rendering this judgment, He will provide the rationale for His decision; He will declare, "You have fed the hungry, quenched the thirst of the needy, welcomed the wanderer, clothed the naked, visited the ill, and reached out to those imprisoned." It is essential to understand that these righteous souls embody these six acts of kindness and mercy not solely in a physical sense but also spiritually, rejuvenating human hearts with His word. They satisfy souls that hunger not just for bread but for the truth of God's word through their exemplary lives. Through their gentle Christian teachings, they provide nourishment for those who thirst for the words of life and for the living, saving waters. By proclaiming faith, they draw those who are estranged into the fold of God's Church. With the promise of future rewards, they wrap those unfamiliar with good deeds in the garments of purity and redemption. Through their counsel, they bolster the weak, sharing in their sufferings. By illuminating their exhortations, they dispel the darkness of sin for those who dwell in it. What will the righteous Judge say regarding these matters?

They recognize the relative insignificance of their actions in light of what they ought to have accomplished and the noble aspirations they hold; they regard themselves as unworthy servants (Luke 17:10) who have merely fulfilled their obligations, and they are astonished when their acts of kindness are acknowledged as remarkable. With this same humility and genuine surprise, they will respond to Christ at the Final Judgment, asking, "Lord, when did we ever see You? When did we see You hungry and provide for You? Thirsty and offer You a drink? When did You arrive as a stranger, and we welcomed You? When did we clothe You when You were naked? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?" To them, the King will reply (Matthew 25:40): "Indeed, you did not do any of these things to Me directly; but did I not tell you that whoever receives one of these little ones receives Me? And consider, you did not turn away anyone who sought your assistance in My name; you fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, welcomed the stranger, and cared for the sick and imprisoned; all the good you did for the poor, the needy, and those in distress, you did as if for Me. Now, go and receive the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven!"

I was hungry, and you did not give me food; I was thirsty, and you did not give me drink; I was a stranger, and you did not take me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me” (Matthew 25:41-43). Is it not clear from this that when God designed a kingdom for some from the foundation of the world and reserved eternal fire for others, it was not out of arbitrary love or hatred, but rather because some were deemed worthy of the kingdom and others of eternal fire due to their own actions, which God, being eternal, foresaw and knew as already accomplished? (see also 2 Peter 1:10; 2 Timothy 2:20; Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 9:27).

They are to inherit the heavenly realm, which is rightfully theirs as a paternal gift and has been theirs from eternity, receiving an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for those who have been granted the privilege of adoption by God through Me, and who lead virtuous lives in accordance with God's preordained plan. The King continues, “If I was hungry, you gave Me food; if I was thirsty, you gave Me drink; if I was a stranger, you welcomed Me; if I was naked, you clothed Me; if I was sick, you visited Me; if I was in prison, you came to Me.” Through these acts of both physical and spiritual mercy, forgiveness is attained during the Last Judgment, in line with the promise made by the Lord in the Sermon on the Mount.