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Matthew 25: The least of these
1. Matthew 25: The least of these
25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, 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. [kjv]
In the parable of the sheep and goats, the phrase
"least" of "
these" is used. What exactly is meant by this term?
This exact phrase in the Greek appears two times in the
KJV (King James Version), both times in this parable, but there are many other usages of the same root word.
The first usage of
"least" of "
these" is addressed to the sheep, who are surprised at this statement. This usage includes the phrase
"my brethren". The second usage is to the (kid) goats, who are also surprised at the statement. This usage does
not include the phrase
"my brethren".
2. Matthew 25:40
KJV: And the King shall answer and say unto them, 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.
Greek: και αποκριθεις ο βασιλευς ερει αυτοις αμην λεγω υμιν εφ οσον εποιησατε ενι τουτων των αδελφων μου των ελαχιστων εμοι εποιησατε
Latin: et respondens rex dicet illis amen dico vobis quamdiu fecistis uni de his fratribus meis minimis mihi fecistis
3. Matthew 25:40,45
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, 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. [kjv]
25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. [kjv]
There is one significant difference in the two verses.
To the sheep the "my brethren" is added.
To the (kid) goats, the "my brethren" is not present.
Since both groups are surprised, one might assume that both groups think that they have done these things - albeit in a literal sense. Perhaps the meaning goes beyond literal into a figurative sense.
4. Matthew 25:45
KJV: Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Greek: τοτε αποκριθησεται αυτοις λεγων αμην λεγω υμιν εφ οσον ουκ εποιησατε ενι τουτων των ελαχιστων ουδε εμοι εποιησατε
Latin: tunc respondebit illis dicens amen dico vobis quamdiu non fecistis uni de minoribus his nec mihi fecistis
5. Matthew 12:50 Brethren
Matthew 12:50 For who soever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. [kjv]
οστις γαρ αν ποιηση το θελημα του πατρος μου του εν ουρανοις αυτος μου αδελφος και αδελφη και μητηρ εστιν [gnt]
… Patris … frater … soror … mater … [v]
The Greek uses "
brothers" as "
brethren" as in the male gender. Does this usage exclude "
sisters" or the female gender?
The Latin word
"frater" ≈ "brother" as in the English word "
fraternity".
The Latin word
"soror" ≈ "sister" as in the English word "
sorority".
6. Matthew 12:50
KJV: For who soever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Greek: οστις γαρ αν ποιηση το θελημα του πατρος μου του εν ουρανοις αυτος μου αδελφος και αδελφη και μητηρ εστιν
Latin: quicumque enim fecerit voluntatem Patris mei qui in caelis est ipse meus et frater et soror et mater est
It is not hard to reason that the term "
brother" as in "
brethren" implies all genders that do the "
will of my Father".
Getting back to the parable of the sheep and goats, the following is observed.
The sheep did these things to his "brethren" (and perhaps to those not his "brethren").
The goats did not do these things to anyone, including his "brethren".
Any solution to the dilemmas of this parable should take into account this distinction.
Discussion question: Is anyone of the human race his "
brethren"? That is, there are no other qualifications.
7. Matthew 11:30 Least of these
8. Matthew 11:30
KJV: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Greek: ο γαρ ζυγος μου χρηστος και το φορτιον μου ελαφρον εστιν
Latin: iugum enim meum suave est et onus meum leve est
Wessex: Soðlice min goc is winsum & min berðene is leoht.
Wycliffe: `For my yok is softe, and my charge liyt.
Luther: Denn mein Joch ist sanft, und meine Last ist leicht.
Russian: ибо иго Мое благо, и бремя Мое легко.
9. Matthew 5:19 Least
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [kjv]
ος εαν ουν λυση μιαν των εντολων τουτων των ελαχιστων και διδαξη ουτως τους ανθρωπους ελαχιστος κληθησεται εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων ος δ αν ποιηση και διδαξη ουτος μεγας κληθησεται εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων [gnt]
Let us see where the Greek word for "
least" as used above appears in the Bible.
10. Matthew 5:19
KJV: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Greek: ος εαν ουν λυση μιαν των εντολων τουτων των ελαχιστων και διδαξη ουτως τους ανθρωπους ελαχιστος κληθησεται εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων ος δ αν ποιηση και διδαξη ουτος μεγας κληθησεται εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων
Latin: qui ergo solverit unum de mandatis istis minimis et docuerit sic homines minimus vocabitur in regno caelorum qui autem fecerit et docuerit hic magnus vocabitur in regno caelorum
Wessex: Eornestlice se þe towirpð an of þisen laesten beboden. & þa men swa laerð. se beoð laest genemned on heofene riche. Soðlice se þe hit deð & laerð. se beoð mychel genemned on heofene rice.
11. Luke 12:25
Luke 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? [kjv]
τις δε εξ υμων μεριμνων δυναται επι την ηλικιαν αυτου προσθειναι πηχυν [gnt]
Luke provides an interesting idea about "
stature" as said by Jesus.
The modern Greek word
"ηλικία" (ee-lee-KEE-a) ≈ "age, maturity" and could be a literal "
height" or "
age" or could be a figurative "
maturity" or "
stature".
Might the stature, or lack of stature, have anything to do with the kid goats in the parable of the sheep and goats?
12. Luke 12:25
KJV: And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Greek: τις δε εξ υμων μεριμνων δυναται προσθειναι επι την ηλικιαν αυτου προσθειναι πηχυν ενα
13. Luke 12:26
Luke 12:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? [kjv]
ει ουν ουδε ελαχιστον δυνασθε τι περι των λοιπων μεριμνατε [gnt]
In this verse, the word translated by the
KJV as "
thought" in the above two verses is the Greek word for "
cares" or "
concerns" as in the "
cares of this world" (as used in the first Kingdom parable in Matthew 13).
Might the inability to, by yourself, add "
stature" as in "
age" or "
maturity" and not being able to do what is "
least" (by yourself) have any connection to the goats in the parable of the sheep and the goats - young immature kid goats, not the word for full grown goats?
14. Luke 12:26
KJV: If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Greek: ει ουν ουτε ουδε ελαχιστον δυνασθε τι περι των λοιπων μεριμνατε
15. Programming language theory
In programming language theory the semantic domain of a type such as integer can be modeled with mathematical lattices using the idea of a complete partial order.
The entire theory is needed for modeling self-referential structures such as recursive procedures that compute fixed points. This entire theory is needed to intelligently discuss concepts such as free will and predestination.
This entire theory is not needed here. A semantic type such as an integer is much simpler.
16. Integer semantic domain
The semantic type domain for integers (whole numbers used here) has a "
bottom", depicted as "
⊥" which represents incomplete information and the integer values, all at one and the same level.
There is sometimes a "
top" value, shape of "
T" for "
top", that represents perfect information but is not needed for programming language theory. The "
bottom" value is an upside-down "
T".
An important point here is that "
the least of these" can refer to any of the values if those values have the same "
value" (e.g., type level).
17. Matthew 25:40,45 Least of these
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, 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. [kjv]
25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. [kjv]
Integers have
different values, one being greater or less than another. At the
semantic type level, all integers are considered
the same.
There is no
unique "least" value at the semantic type level - they all have the same semantic type value. So all integers can be compared by integer value but all integers are the same by type value. The general idea is that of a mathematical equivalence relation.
18. Matthew 25:41
KJV: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Greek: τοτε ερει και τοις εξ ευωνυμων πορευεσθε απ εμου οι κατηραμενοι εις το πυρ το αιωνιον το ητοιμασμενον τω διαβολω και τοις αγγελοις αυτου
19. Matthew 23:11-12
Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. [kjv]
ο δε μειζων υμων εσται υμων διακονος [gnt]
23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. [kjv]
οστις δε υψωσει εαυτον ταπεινωθησεται και οστις ταπεινωσει εαυτον υψωθησεται [gnt]
Jesus talks about those who be "
greatest" must be "
least".
20. Matthew 23:11
KJV: But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Greek: ο δε μειζων υμων εσται υμων διακονος
21. Matthew 23:12
KJV: And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Greek: οστις δε υψωσει εαυτον ταπεινωθησεται και οστις ταπεινωσει εαυτον υψωθησεται
22. Philippians 2:3
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [kjv]
μηδεν κατ εριθειαν μηδε κατα κενοδοξιαν αλλα τη ταπεινοφροσυνη αλληλους ηγουμενοι υπερεχοντας εαυτων [gnt]
Paul appears to say something similar.
23. Philippians 2:3
KJV: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Greek: μηδεν κατα κατ εριθειαν η μηδε κατα κενοδοξιαν αλλα τη ταπεινοφροσυνη αλληλους ηγουμενοι υπερεχοντας εαυτων
24. Summary
It is possible that "the least of these" can refer to any of the possible values at that type level.
For humans, or souls, that are all at the same level, this could be important in creating a model that satisfies the dilemmas of the parable of the sheep and goats.
25. End of page
