Matthew 25:40 states the positive principle: serving the least is serving Christ — this verse gives the negative inverse.

In Matthew 10:40, receiving a disciple is receiving Christ — the same principle that serving the least serves Christ.

In Matthew 18:5, receiving a child in Jesus’ name is receiving Christ — directly mirrors serving the least as serving Christ.

Proverbs 14:31 states that oppressing the poor reproaches God — directly parallel to neglecting the needy being neglecting Christ here.

Proverbs 17:5 says mocking the poor reproaches God — the same principle: mistreating the needy is mistreating God, echoed here.

In 1 John 3:17, closing one's heart against a brother in need contradicts God's love — a direct parallel to neglecting the least and failing to serve Christ.

Acts 9:5 shows Jesus telling Saul 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting' — directly identifies persecution of believers as persecution of Christ, mirroring the judgment principle.

Isaiah 63:9 says God was afflicted in all Israel's affliction — a strong parallel showing God's identification with His people, just as Christ identifies with the least.

In Luke 9:48, welcoming a child welcomes Christ — same identification as neglecting the least being neglecting Christ.

Job 31:32 describes opening his doors to the stranger — a specific act of hospitality that directly parallels caring for 'the least of these' in the judgment scene.

In Acts 9:4, persecuting the church is persecuting Christ — the same logic that treatment of followers equals treatment of Jesus.

In Acts 22:7, Saul hears 'why do you persecute me?' — Jesus identifies with his people, echoing the principle that mistreating them is mistreating Christ.

In Acts 22:8, Jesus says 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting' — directly linking treatment of believers to treatment of Christ himself.

In Acts 26:15, Jesus again says 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting' — reinforcing the identity between Christ and his followers.

In 1 Corinthians 8:12, sinning against believers is sinning against Christ — the same principle of Christ's identification with his people.

John 15:18 says the world's hatred of believers is hatred of Christ first — a similar link between how others treat disciples and how they treat Jesus.

Proverbs 21:13 warns that ignoring the poor leads to being ignored — a parallel to the judgment here for neglecting the needy.

1 John 5:1-3 links loving God with loving His children, echoing the principle that neglect of the least is neglect of Christ.