Matius 10:18

10:18 And you will be brought before governors and kings ¹  because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles.

Matius 25:40

25:40 And the king will answer them, ²  ‘I tell you the truth, ³  just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters ⁴  of mine, you did it for me.’

[10:18]  ¹ sn These statements look at persecution both from a Jewish context as the mention of courts and synagogues suggests, and from a Gentile one as the reference to governors and kings suggests. Some fulfillment of Jewish persecution can be seen in Acts.

[25:40]  ² tn Grk “answering, the king will say to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

[25:40]  ³ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[25:40]  ⁴ tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). In this context Jesus is ultimately speaking of his “followers” (whether men or women, adults or children), but the familial connotation of “brothers and sisters” is also important to retain here.