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Matthew 25:40Olivet Discourse
The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
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Interpretation

Jesus teaches a least of these that is embodied in limits and longings. Matthew 25:40: trace "did" and "king". Give least of these in small choices no one sees—carry peace past preference.

Context

The setting is Matthew—gospel narrative, naming least of these. Placed in ch. 25, the nearby lines set its tone. The nearby sentences supply the texture.

Authorship & Historical Background

Matthew was received under the name of Matthew the disciple, once a tax collector. Matthew is frequently described this way: Initially anonymous; tradition later assigns Matthew; engages Mark alongside a sayings tradition.. Date: AD 80–90. Matthew appears framed for Jewish‑Christian community.. It sits within the Olivet Discourse (gospel narrative). Readers often compare Matthew’s arrangement and sources with Mark and Q.

More details
Traditional:Matthew the tax collector
Modern scholarship:Anonymous; attributed to Matthew; uses Mark + Q source.
Date:AD 80–90
Audience:Jewish‑Christian community.
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Greek text is preserved in over 5,800 manuscripts, more than any other surviving ancient work. Early papyri from the 2nd-3rd centuries like P46, P66, P75 provide text within 100–150 years of composition. Major uncial codices (Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, 4th century) contain complete or near-complete texts. The Byzantine text family represents the majority of later manuscripts. Textual variants exist but are mostly minor: word order, articles, spelling. No central Christian doctrine depends on any disputed text. Modern critical editions compare all manuscript families to determine the probably reflects the initial text reading.
Sources & witness notes
SinaiticusVaticanusP46