LEAST, smallest — the superlative of mikros. ⚠ Everything about Matthew 25:40 turns on it: 'in so far as you did it to one of these ELACHISTŌN of my brothers, you did it to me.' Matthew has used the mikros family of the vulnerable INSIDE the community (18:6, 10, 14 — 'these little ones,' whom it would be better to be drowned than to trip) and adelphos, 'brother,' of disciples (23:8). Hence the two long-standing readings of the sheep and the goats: the least are the poor and afflicted generally, or they are Christ's own messengers, the 'little ones' of 10:42 who get a cup of cold water. ⚠ One textual detail resists tidying in either direction: v40 says 'these least ones OF MY BROTHERS' and v45, giving the same verdict in reverse, says only 'these least ones.' The library prints the asymmetry and does not vote. → first discussed at Matt 25:40