Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 25:44

"Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?" — Matthew 25:44 (ASV)

When saw we thee ...? —As before, there is an unconsciousness of the greatness of what had been done for good or evil. People thought they were only neglecting their fellow human beings and, perhaps, believed they had wronged no one.

It is significant that all the sins mentioned here are sins of omission. As in the parable of the Talents, the opportunities have simply not been used—in this case, the opportunities common to all people, as opposed to those in the parable that were attached to an office or ministry in the Church.