“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?”
The full verse · Matthew 25:39 · KJV
Or saw , , ?
Asked by
Righteous: the sheep set on the King's right hand, whom He calls blessed of His Father (Matthew 25:33-34, 37)
Asked to
Jesus: the Son of man seated on the throne of His glory, called the King, judging all nations (Matthew 25:31-34)
The Scene
The righteous finish their reply to the King by asking about the last two needs He named: "I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me" (Matthew 25:36, 39).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThis is the last of the questions the righteous ask. Gill observes that though Christ "bore the sicknesses of his people, yet we never read of his being sick himself, nor was he ever cast into prison." So they ask honestly when they could have visited Him. Gill adds that many of Christ's servants were imprisoned, "as John the Baptist, Peter, and Paul," and were cared for by fellow Christians. Barnes reads all three questions as the voice of humility: they feel their "poor acts of kindness" fell short and gave them no claim to praise.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe King answers all their questions together: "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" (Matthew 25:40). Then He turns to those on His left and names the same six needs they ignored (Matthew 25:41-43), and they answer with a question of their own (Matthew 25:44).
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Sick" translates asthenounta, ailing or weak. "Came unto thee" is elthomen pros se, we came to you; the King had said "ye visited me" for the sick and "ye came unto me" for the prisoner (Matthew 25:36). Prison in the Gospels was a real danger for God's servants: Matthew records that Herod "put him in prison," speaking of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:3).
Gill's note that Jesus "bore the sicknesses of his people" echoes Matthew 8:17, where Matthew applies Isaiah's words to Jesus' healings: "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThe list ends with the sick and the imprisoned, people who cannot come to you; you have to go to them. The King counts that going as coming to Him. That says something about His heart: He is found among the weak and the confined, not only among the strong and free.
This verse also sets up a sharp contrast. The righteous ask "when saw we thee" out of surprise at being praised. In a moment, those on the left will ask almost the same words out of surprise at being condemned (Matthew 25:44). Both groups call Him "Lord." What separates them is not what they knew but what they did for the least of His brethren (Matthew 25:40, 45).
Look Closer
Why could the righteous not remember visiting the King?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You stand with the sick and the confined; who in my life is waiting for someone to come to them, and how would You have me go?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- What keeps you from visiting people who are sick, homebound, or in prison: time, discomfort, or not knowing what to say?
- Tell about a time someone came to you when you were sick or shut in. What did their visit mean?
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Some people cannot come to church, to the table, or to the gathering. The sick, the homebound, and the imprisoned depend on someone coming to them. Jesus counts that visit as coming to Him.
You do not need the right words. The King did not say "ye healed me" or "ye set me free." He said "ye visited me" and "ye came unto me" (Matthew 25:36). Your presence is the gift.
This does not mean you must carry every burden yourself. Visit as you are able, and invite others to go with you.
Scripture's own application: Hebrews 13:3
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?”
“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee?”
“Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?”