What does Matthew 25:37 mean?

The group Jesus praises during the end times are confused about His comments (Matthew 25:34–36). After describing them as blessed by His Father and welcoming them to take their rightful places in His kingdom, He has also told them that they cared for Him in several essential ways when He was most in need of help. Given that this judgment (Matthew 25:31–33) happens at some point in the end times, most or all these people will never have seen Jesus in person until then.

These people are described as "righteous," and earlier verses referred to their fate being prepared "from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34). This echoes the idea of "the elect," meaning those who have come to faith in Christ and obtained salvation (Ephesians 1:4; Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:27; Romans 11:7; Titus 1:1). Over the next few verses, they will echo back Jesus' praise in the form of a question: when did we do these good things for you?