When We Ignore the Least of These, We Ignore Jesus

Jesus was crystal clear in Matthew 25:35–40. He said:

“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”

“Then the righteous will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and help you?’”

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”
(Matthew 25:35–40, NLT)

Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush—He tells us exactly what matters to Him: feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, caring for the sick, and looking out for the people society forgets.

But right now in America, we’re doing the opposite.

Millions lost food benefits when the expanded SNAP program ended. Housing and healthcare programs are being cut. Families are being evicted while grocery prices skyrocket. Migrants are being detained or sent back into danger. And yet, some politicians still get up and quote the Bible like everything’s fine.

It’s not fine. That’s not loving your neighbor. That’s ignoring Jesus when He shows up in need—and pretending He’s not there.

Leviticus 19:34 tells us to “love the foreigner as yourself.” The Bible’s never been vague about this. If we really want to follow Christ, we need to care for the people He called “the least of these.” And when our leaders fail to do that, Christians need to speak up.

Because Jesus made it clear—how we treat the poor, the hungry, the sick, the stranger—that’s how we treat Him.

Sources

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, 2015. Matthew 25:35–40; Leviticus 19:34.

United States Department of Agriculture. “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).” USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 2024, www.fns.usda.gov/snap.

Human Rights First. “Title 42 Expulsions and Migrant Harm Report.” Human Rights First, Jan. 2024, www.humanrightsfirst.org.

Congressional Budget Office. “Analysis of the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025.” CBO, Apr. 2024, www.cbo.gov/publication/58923.

Offutt, Stephen. “What Does the Bible Say About Immigrants?” Christianity Today, 2 May 2023, www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/may/bible-immigration-scripture-verses-welcome.html.

Gutiérrez, Gustavo. A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics, and Salvation. Orbis Books, 1988.

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