Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46

[31] When  the Son  of man  shall come  in  his  glory,  and  all  angels  with  him,  then  shall he sit  upon  the throne  of his  glory:  [32] And  before  him  shall be gathered  all  nations:  and  he shall separate  them  from  another,  as  a shepherd  divideth  his sheep  from  the goats:  [33] And  he shall set  the sheep  on  his  right hand,  but  the goats  on  the left.  [34] Then  shall the King  say  unto them on  his  right hand,  Come,  ye blessed  Father,  inherit  the kingdom  prepared  from  the foundation  of the world:  [35] For  I was an hungred,  and  ye gave  meat:  I was thirsty,  and  drink:  a stranger,  and  in:  [36] Naked,  and  ye clothed  I was sick,  and  ye visited  in  prison,  and  ye came  unto  [37] Then  shall the righteous  answer  him,  saying,  Lord,  when  an hungred,  and  fed  thee? or  thirsty,  and  gave thee drink?  [38] When  a stranger,  and  took thee in?  or  naked,  and  clothed  [39] Or when  or  in  prison,  and  came  unto  [40] And  the King  shall answer  and say  unto them,  Verily  I say  Inasmuch  as  ye have done  it unto one  of the least  brethren,  ye have done  [41] Then  shall he say  also  unto them on  the left hand,  Depart  from  ye cursed,  into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for the devil  and  his  angels:  [42] For  I was an hungred,  and  ye gave  no  meat:  I was thirsty,  and  no  drink:  [43] a stranger,  and  not  in:  naked,  and  ye clothed  not:  sick,  and  in  prison,  and  ye visited  not.  [44] Then  shall they  also  answer  him,  saying,  Lord,  when  an hungred,  or  athirst,  or  a stranger,  or  naked,  or  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  not  minister  [45] Then  shall he answer  them,  saying,  Verily  I say  Inasmuch  as  ye did  it not  to one  of the least  ye did  it not  [46] And  these  shall go away  into  everlasting  punishment:  but  the righteous  into  life  eternal. 

What does Matthew 25:31-46 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus concluded the Olivet Discourse with further revelation about the judgment that will take place at the end of the present age when He returns. He had referred to it often in the discourse, but now He made it a special subject of explanation. This judgment will occur when the King returns to earth at the end of the Tribulation to set up His kingdom. [1]
As we have seen, Matthew stressed judgment in his Gospel ( Matthew 3:12; Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:16; Matthew 7:24-27; Matthew 13:30; Matthew 13:48-49; Matthew 18:23-34; Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 21:33-41; Matthew 22:1-14; Matthew 24:45-51; Matthew 25:1-12; Matthew 25:14-30). This is not unusual since the Old Testament predicted that judgment would precede the messianic kingdom, and Matthew emphasized the kingdom. It is not surprising, therefore, that Jesus concluded this discourse that reveals events leading up to the inauguration of the kingdom by explaining the judgment that will precede it.
The New Testament teaches that there will be two distinct judgments relative to the kingdom. Many scholars believe there will only be one general judgment at the end. [2] Most of these are amillenarians, but some premillenarians believe this as well. [3] One of these judgments will occur just before the messianic kingdom begins and another will follow at its end. The one at the end is the great white throne judgment when God will send all unbelievers to hell ( Revelation 20:11-15).
Some differences between these two judgments indicate their distinctness. First, the first judgment will not involve a resurrection of unbelievers but will deal with unbelievers alive then on the earth. The word "nations" (i.e, Gentiles, Gr. ethne) never refers to the dead elsewhere in Scripture. [4] The second judgment will involve a resurrection of unbelievers. Second, the first judgment will involve three different kinds of people: the sheep, the goats, and Jesus" brethren. The second will involve the wicked ( Revelation 20:13-15) and possibly the righteous who have died during the Millennium. Third, the first will result in some inheriting the kingdom and others getting eternal punishment, but the second will result in the wicked judged going into the lake of fire. Fourth, the first happens at the beginning of the messianic (millennial) kingdom, but the second happens at its end. [5]
This pericope rounds off Jesus" instructions about the future in a way similar to how Matthew 10:40-42 completes Jesus" charge concerning His apostles" mission in Israel ( Matthew 10:5-42). It is the parable of the sheep and the goats. Some writers have argued that this is not a parable. [6] However most have dealt with this section as a parable in the looser sense of a lesson.