Tag Archives: politics

What does Jesus mean when politicians quote “least of these?”

If you live in Texas then I am sure you have heard about James Talarico running for U.S. Senate in 2026. Talarico has been a little unique as a politician because he has been front and center with his faith in Jesus, and how it has shaped his view toward policy in the state of Texas.

One particular reference Talarico has made about Scripture is from Matthew 25 when Jesus references the “least of these.” Talarico isn’t the first to reference this passage. In many settings the passage is presented as a simple moral message: followers of Jesus should help people in need.

44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

When we read Matthew 25 within the flow of Matthew’s Gospel, another possibility becomes visible. The scene is less about general humanitarian care and more about how people respond to Jesus by the way they treat His followers.

The Context: Jesus Is Being Rejected

The later chapters of Matthew are dominated by a growing conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders of Israel. By the time we reach chapters 21 to 23, the conflict is no longer subtle. Jesus openly rebukes religious leaders for rejecting Jesus as God in the flesh who has come to fulfill the promises of Messiah. So the storyline of Matthew becomes a question of recognition and allegiance. Will people recognize the King, or will they reject Him?

Establishing the Principle

Earlier in the Gospel Jesus explains something that becomes crucial for interpreting Matthew 25. When He sends out His disciples, He tells them: Whoever receives you receives me. That teaching appears in the Gospel of Matthew 10:40-42.

40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

Jesus goes even further. He says that even giving a cup of water to one of His “little ones” will be remembered. In other words, how someone treats the messenger reveals how they respond to the One who sent the messenger. This idea is central to Matthew’s writing. Jesus’ followers represent Him in the world.

Key Phrase: “The Least of These My Brothers”

The entire passage hinges on one phrase, “The least of these my brothers.” How we interpret that phrase determines what the passage means. Many readers assume it refers to the poor or marginalized in general. But Matthew’s Gospel consistently uses “brothers” to refer to Jesus’ disciples.

For example, In Gospel of Matthew 12:49-50, Jesus calls His followers His brothers. In Matthew 28:10, after the resurrection, Jesus again refers to the disciples as His brothers. Within Matthew’s own language, the phrase most naturally refers to those who belong to Jesus.

Overview

If “my brothers” refers to Jesus’ followers, then the judgment scene takes on a different emphasis. The nations are not being evaluated primarily on general humanitarian activity. They are being evaluated on how they responded to Jesus by how they treated His people.

This fits the larger storyline of the Gospel. The religious leaders reject Jesus. They persecute His followers. They refuse to recognize the King, therefore, in the final judgment, the King exposes what their actions revealed all along. Those who welcomed His followers demonstrated openness to Him. Those who rejected or ignored them revealed their rejection of the King.

Compassion Still Matters

Recognizing this interpretation doesn’t mean compassion toward the poor is unimportant. Scripture consistently calls believers to care for those in need. But Matthew 25 isn’t about establishing a social ethic. Instead, it’s revealing something deeper about the identity of Jesus and the loyalty He demands. The King identifies Himself with His people so closely that caring for them is counted as caring for Him, and rejecting them is counted as rejecting Him.

“Grassroots” Doesn’t Always Mean What We Think

Walk into any grocery store and you’ll see it, packaging covered in reassuring words.

All natural.
Farm-fresh.
Made with real ingredients.

Most of these phrases aren’t lies. They’re just not the whole truth. “All natural” might mean the product used beet juice for coloring… and still contains nine types of preservatives. “Farm-fresh” might mean the farm was three thousand acres owned by a multinational corporation. The label signals purity. The reality is supply chains, processing, and marketing.

That same pattern has become normal in American politics. One of the most beloved words in modern activism is “grassroots.” It evokes images of neighbors calling neighbors, volunteers knocking on doors, and everyday citizens organizing themselves with nothing but passion and conviction. But like the grocery-store label, “grassroots” often tells only the part of the story people want to hear.

The Two Layers of Grassroots

Most large-scale political movements, whether progressive or conservative, operate on two levels:

1. The visible layer: volunteers, rallies, and local chapters

This is the part the cameras see:

  • people holding signs
  • small groups meeting at libraries
  • decentralized energy
  • local organizers who care, often deeply

This layer is real. People are genuinely involved.
Just like a snack labeled “all natural” probably does include real fruit.

2. The invisible layer: infrastructure, funding, and national coordination

This is the part people don’t see:

  • nonprofits that create toolkits
  • national organizations providing legal resources
  • donor-funded groups paying for communications staff
  • coordinated messaging that appears “spontaneous”
  • networks that give local volunteers the ability to scale quickly

This layer is also real. And it explains how protests or campaigns can come together in 10 days or appear in major cities within days. It something true grassroots activism simply cannot do without help.

This pattern exists on the left, right, and center.

Democratic-aligned examples

  • People’s Action: neighborhood-based organizing supported by national foundations.
  • Alliance for Youth Action: local youth activism boosted by national grants.
  • Faith in Action: local congregational mobilizers supported by large faith-justice networks.

Republican-aligned examples

  • Convention of States Action: volunteer-led chapters using major conservative funding and think-tank infrastructure.
  • Moms for Liberty: local school-board activism amplified by national donors and legal organizations.
  • The Libre Initiative: community engagement backed by a major national donor network.

These organizations aren’t pretending people don’t care; many volunteers are genuinely passionate. But the speed, scale, and coordination depend on something deeper than neighbors texting neighbors.

Just like the “farm-fresh” eggs that actually came from a massive distribution system. The term “grassroots” creates trust. It signals:

  • authenticity
  • independence
  • purity of motive
  • citizens acting without manipulation

That’s why movements use it. But when we assume “grassroots” automatically means “no national influence” or “no financial backing,” we misunderstand the actual dynamics shaping public action.

Why We Should Pay Attention

Just as reading a food label helps you understand what’s actually in the package, looking beneath the “grassroots” sticker reveals the full ingredient list of a movement. So the next time you see a movement calling itself “grassroots,” treat it like that container labeled “all natural.”

There’s probably some truth in it. But it’s worth remembering that behind every clean, confident label is a system much bigger than the words on the front. And the story gets clearer once you turn the box around and read what’s actually inside.