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The least of these is a phrase from Matthew 25, where Jesus speaks of those in need. The context is the parable of the sheep and the goats, which describes the judgment of the nations. This judgment will take place in the aftermath of the tribulation in the end times. Jesus explains what will happen at that time:
Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:34–40, ESV).
In contrast to the blessings enjoyed by the “sheep,” the “goats” are cursed with eternal hellfire, “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). Jesus gives the reason for the judgment: they had opportunity to minister to the Lord, but they did nothing (verses 42–43). The “goats” ask when they saw the Lord in need—when did they have opportunity to serve Him? Jesus replies, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me” (verse 45, ESV).The need of the “least of these” is great, and the difference in treatment they receive is stark. The “sheep” act charitably, giving food, drink, and clothing to the least of these, Jesus’ brothers. The “goats” show no charity but turn a cold shoulder to their needs. It didn’t matter to them that Jesus’ brothers were hungry, thirsty, impoverished, sick, and imprisoned. They just didn’t care. In this way, the righteous and the unrighteous show their true nature. The nature of the righteous is to help others; the nature of the unrighteous is to look out for themselves. The “sheep” are proved to be righteous and the “goats” are proved to be sinful by their respective responses to those in dire need.
In the end-times context of Matthew 25, the “sheep” are those who were saved during the tribulation, and the “goats” are the unsaved who survived the tribulation. The “least of these” are the believing Jews (Jesus’ “brothers” in the flesh) who were persecuted and hunted down by the Antichrist during the great tribulation. During that time of intense trouble, only the righteous will risk their own well-being to help the Jewish people in their distress. The unrighteous will refuse to help, becoming complicit in the Antichrist’s extreme anti-Semitism and genocidal plans.
The redeemed are “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14), even to the “least of these.” Extending charity to God’s people in difficult situations is godly. The “least of these” are easily overlooked and ignored. During the great tribulation, the Jews will be ostracized, persecuted, and marked for destruction (see Matthew 24:15–22; Daniel 7:21; Revelation 12:17). Non-Jews who remain apathic toward them will provide proof positive that they do not know Jesus.
God has always shown a special concern for the poor and needy (Psalm 35:10). In Matthew 25, Jesus identifies Himself with the poor and needy to the extent that He considers one’s treatment of the “least of these” to equate to how He is treated. A similar perspective is found in Acts 9. As “Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers” (Acts 9:1), the Lord stopped him on the road to Damascus. Saul “fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’” (verse 4). When Saul inquired who was speaking, the Lord replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!” (verse 5). Saul was persecuting Christians, and Jesus took it personally. As far as the Lord was concerned, Saul was persecuting Him.
The parable of the sheep and the goats can find application to our own actions today. The “least of these” could be applied broadly to all believers in Christ or, more broadly still, to all humanity. The followers of Jesus should be proactive in their charitable acts, especially toward those of the family of God (Galatians 6:10). If any of Jesus’ “brothers” are being ostracized, persecuted, or marked for destruction by wicked forces, we have a responsibility to take action to help provide relief from the suffering. Our service to the “least of these” is to Christ Himself. He takes it personally what happens to His own, and the godly should be characterized by charity.
