When Did We See You Sick and in Prison? - Matthew 25:39

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples He will separate the nations upon His right and left hand according to their belief and trust in Him. He continued by saying, “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungry, and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you drink? When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you?”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse thirty-nine of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus the righteous continued to asked when, “when did we see you sick, or in prison” where we read:

Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came unto you?

The verse reads, “Or when saw we you sick, ...” Matthew began with Jesus' word, “or when” which means “or at what time or moment” “saw we you sick” or “did the disciples see Jesus weak, with infirmity and feeble”? Matthew shared how Jesus said His disciples also wondered when they saw Him physically “weak and feeble”.

The verse continues, “... or in prison, and came unto you?” Matthew added Jesus' words, “or in prison” which means “or incarcerated, under watch, guard and within a place where captives are kept”, “and came” which means “and appeared, arose and came forth” “unto you” which refers to “Jesus” . Matthew shared how Jesus said the disciples wondered what time they saw Jesus as a “captive” under guard and watch.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see another example of times when the disciples did not know when they ministered to Jesus. This time mentions Jesus being “sick” and “in prison”, and the disciples ministered to Him. God loves people, and He knew in advance that people would become “sick” and would be “cast into jails and prisons”. He sent His Son Jesus to “save” people from their sins, and then He commissions them to help other people who experience these conditions. By serving others who are “hurting”, disciples of Jesus minister to Him, and those who are wise will seek the opportunities to serve.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus shares how, “the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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