What the doctrine is about
The Watchtower, September 2024 (study article 38) claims that the judgment of the sheep and the goats at Matthew 25:31-46 depends on how Christians “loyally support his anointed followers.” This implies that the treatment of the anointed is essential for everlasting life or death. The article interprets “the least of these my brothers” as exclusive to anointed Christians and encourages loyalty to them (see also The Watchtower, February 2022, Study Article 6, paragraph 8).
The doctrine is based on the interpretation of Matthew 25:31-46, in which Jesus describes how, as a judge, he distinguishes “sheep” from “goats” based on their treatment of “the least of these my brothers.” The Watchtower claims that this applies to anointed Christians, who are identified as Jesus’ brothers. Furthermore, it is assumed that loyalty to the anointed reflects loyalty to Christ.
Why the Doctrine Has No Biblical Basis
There is nowhere in Matthew 25:31-46 that limits “the least” to those whom Jehovah’s Witnesses believe will go to heaven. First, Jehovah’s Witnesses consider those who are going to heaven as government members of God’s Kingdom. They are by no means considered to be “the smallest”. Instead, the context shows that “the least” are people in need and whom most people do not care about (Mathew 12:50; Matthew 18:5). Second, Jesus teaches that we should be judged by our faith and actions, not our loyalty to a group of people.
Is it Idolatry?
The Bible warns against idolatry, where worship or loyalty that belongs only to God is given to humans (Matthew 4:10; Acts 10:25–26).
If idolatry is defined as giving loyalty or worship that belongs only to Jehovah to humans, then the teaching of Jehovah’s Witnesses about loyalty to the anointed (including the Governing Body) is really idolatry. The Bible is clear that Jehovah alone is worthy of worship, and even angels reject worship (Revelation 22:8–9). Hence, the doctrine of loyalty to the anointed as essential to salvation can be interpreted as a form of idolatry if it creates a structure in which humans act as intermediaries between God and his worshippers.
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