Matthew 25:41-45

Matthew 25:41-45

[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 

What does Matthew 25:41-45 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus will banish the goats and send them into eternal fire (cf. Matthew 13:24-43; Matthew 13:47-50; Revelation 14:11; Revelation 19:15). Jesus" descriptions of hell were familiar to the Jews of His day (cf. Matthew 3:10; Matthew 3:12; Matthew 5:22; Matthew 7:19; Matthew 13:40; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 13:50; Matthew 18:8-9; Jude 1:7; Revelation 20:10-15). Only the righteous will enter the kingdom ( Matthew 25:34). The fact that the goats will address Jesus as "Lord" ( Matthew 25:44) does not show they are believers since everyone will acknowledge Him as Lord then (cf. Philippians 2:11).
The sheep and the goats will not express surprise because they anticipated a different fate. They will express surprise because of the evidence by which Jesus will judge their condition, namely, their treatment of His brethren. Normally a person"s works demonstrate his faith or lack of it.
"The King"s messengers, immediately before He appears in glory, will go forth preaching the gospel of the kingdom everywhere; and when the King takes His throne, those that received the gospel of the kingdom among the nations are recognized as "sheep," and the despisers perish as "goats."" [1]