What is meant by Matthew 25:40?

[CatholicZ09]

"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

• Matthew 25:40.

What is to be interpreted to this quote? Whatever we do to someone, we do unto Christ?

 

[Salvatore123]

Christ identified himself with all men. If you treated your fellow man with mercy, you will experience mercy. It is merely a summation of the Beatitudes. Whatever you did for the least of men, you may expect the same for you on Judgment Day.

 

[momor]

In general I think it applies to all mankind - whatever we do for good or evil we do to Christ who is the head of the Body of Christ. But beyond that I think there is a special note of doing to the "least’. If we harm those who are poor or ill or burdened in some way and add to their burden that is worse than causing harm to someone who is well-off, elevated, has it easy in this life. Conversely, if we do good for the lowly we are more likely to be doing it for the right reasons of empathy and compassion and brotherly love. If we help the lofty, we are often doing it to curry favor or because we think they will help us in return.

 

[COPLAND_3]

Theophylact says,

By “the least brethren” He means either His own disciples or, simply, all the poor. For every poor man is Christ’s brother for the very reason that Christ, too, spent His life in poverty. See also God’s righteousness, how He acclaims the saints; and see the good disposition of their mind, how they deny, with befitting modesty, that they have cared for Him. But the Lord accepts as for Himself the things that were done for the poor.

St. John Chrysostom says,

But if they are His brethren, why does He call them “the least?” Because they are lowly, poor, and outcast. By these He means not only the monks who have retired to the mountains, but every believer though he should be secular, though an hungred, or the like, yet He would have him obtain merciful succours, for baptism and communication of the Divine mysteries makes him a brother.

St. Jerome says,

He seems to me not to speak of the poor generally, but of the poor in spirit, those to whom He pointed and said, “Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother.” [Matt 12:50]

Cornelius A. Lapide says,

And the King shall answer, &c. … one of the least of these. The word these strictly denotes the Apostles, and Religious and Apostolic men similar to them, who shall sit as assessors with Christ as judge. In this world they were accounted the least and most abject. And to themselves in their humility they seemed to be the very least of all. Inasmuch as they voluntarily embraced poverty of spirit, they gave themselves up altogether to the cross of Christ and to the preaching of the faith. But in the second place, all poor Christians who, having been born again in baptism, have been by grace made children of God, and therefore brethren of Christ, are denoted by the word these. Observe that infidels and the reprobate, though they may have been once brothers of Christ, are not here counted worthy of the name. Still He does not forbid giving them alms. Well says S. Cyprian in his Treatise on Almsgiving, “What more could Christ declare unto us? How could He do more to provoke to works of justice and mercy, than by pronouncing that whatever is done to the poor and needy is done to Himself? That he who is not moved by the consideration of his brother in the Church may be moved at least by considering Christ. And that he who does not think of his fellow-servant in labour and need, may at least think of his Master, who stands in the place of him whom he despises.”

This was the reason why S. Louis, king of France, was accustomed to distribute food with his own hands to two hundred poor persons on all vigils and festivals, and to wash their feet on Saturdays. He also daily entertained at his own table three poor old men, and afterwards ate what they left. When some persons objected that this was derogatory to the majesty of a king, he made answer, “I revere Christ in the poor, Christ who said, ‘What ye do unto the least of Mine, ye do unto Me.’” And he was wont to add, “The poor prepare Heaven for themselves by patience, but the rich by alms and reverence, whereby they love and venerate the poor as the members of Christ.” 0 wise and holy king! Would that kings and princes would follow in his steps!

From these words of Christ S. Francis was wont to encourage his Friars freely to solicit alms. He himself was wont to beg upon the great Festivals. He said that the words of the Psalmist, “Man did eat angels’ food,” were fulfilled in holy paupers. For that, he said, was angelic food which was asked for the love of God, which, at the suggestion of the angels, was bestowed for the love of God, and which holy poverty collected from door to door

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Note Jesus’ words to Saint Paul on the Road to Damascus:

4 And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; 6 but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Acts 9:4-6

 

[MarcoPolo]

Good commentaries above.

I also think it reflects the singularity of the Body of Christ. You see other Scripture referring to how when one member rejoices/suffers the whole Body rejoices/suffers. And the Church is Christ’s body (cf. Eph 1:22-23), therefore no matter which member of the Church you affect—even the least member—you do it to Him.