THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 25 - Verse 35

Verses 35,36. I was an hungred. The union between Christ and his people is the most tender and endearing of all connexions. It is represented by the closest unions of which we have knowledge, Joh 15:4-6; Eph 5:23-32; 1 Co 6:15.

This is a union not physical, but moral; a union of feelings, interests, plans, destiny; or, in other words, he and his people have similar feelings, love the same objects, share the same trials, and inherit the same blessedness, Joh 14:19; Re 3:5,21; Ro 8:17.

Hence he considers favours shown to his people as shown to himself, and will reward them accordingly, Mt 10:40,42. They show attachment to him, and love to his cause. By showing kindness to the poor, and needy, and sick, they show that they possess his spirit—for he did it when on earth; they evince attachment to him, for he was poor and needy; and they show that they have the proper spirit to fit them for heaven, 1 Jo 3:14,17; Jas 2:1-5; Mr 9:41.

Was a stranger. The word stranger means a foreigner, or traveller; in our language, one unknown to us. To receive such to the rites of hospitality was, in eastern countries, where there were few or no public houses, a great virtue. See Ge 18:1-8; Heb 13:2.

Took me in. Into your house. Received me kindly.

Naked. Poorly clothed. Among the Jews they were called naked who were clad in poor raiment, or they who had on only the tunic or inner garment, without any outer garment. See Barnes "Mt 5:40 Ac 19:16; Mr 14:51,52; Job 22:6; Isa 58:7.

{e} "For I was" Is 58:7; Eze 18:7 {f} "stranger" 1 Pe 4:9; 3 Jo 1:5