Matthew 25:42
ESV
For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
NIV
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
NASB
for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
CSB
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink;
NLT
For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.
KJV
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
NKJV
for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
What does Matthew 25:42 mean?
The first group addressed by Jesus (Matthew 25:31–33), the righteous, elect believers (Ephesians 4:1; Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:27; Romans 11:7; Titus 1:1), followed Him faithfully, meeting the needs of those who were suffering, especially other believers. In doing so, they were serving Jesus Himself (Matthew 25:34–40).The rest—the second group called "goats"— failed to give Him food or drink when He was hungry and thirsty. In fact, as the following verses show, they failed to care for Him when He suffered all the various needs met by those called the sheep. The sins Jesus holds these unbelievers accountable for are sins of neglect (Matthew 25:43–46).
It's important to note that the actions Jesus describes here are not what cause these people to be approved or condemned (Titus 3:5). Rather, they are demonstrations of their faith in Him (John 13:31–35, 14:15). Those who show no love for believers are not, themselves, really believers (1 John 4:20).
