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Matthew 25:31-46

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy 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 one 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 of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? 38. When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? 39. Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45. Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 25:31-46 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 25:31

Theological / Devotional

Son of man. [The Sheep and the Goats, Matt. 25:31-46. On parables see pp. 207-213.] For comment on the circumstances under which this parable was given see on eh. 24:1-3; cf. on eh. 25:1, 14. Like the parables of the Ten Virgins (vs. 1-13) and the Talents (vs. 14-30), the parable of the Sheep and the Goats was told to illustrate truths set forth in dr. 24 relative to the promised return of Jesus. For the relationship of the two preceding parables to the discourse of dr. 24, see on dr. 25:14. This, the last of Jesus’ parables, appropriately presents the great final assize and reduces to the most simple and practical terms the basis on which judgment is to be meted out. Concerning the expression “Son of man” see on Matt. 1:1; Mark 2:10.

Come in his glory. At His first advent Jesus veiled His divine glory and lived as a man among men (see on Luke 2:48). The kingdom He then established was the kingdom of His grace (see on Matt. 5:3). However, He will come again, “in his glory,” to inaugurate His eternal kingdom (Dan. 7:14, 27; Rev. 11:15; see on Matt. 4:17 ; 5:2).

Jesus’ second advent is the theme of Matt. 24 and 25.

The holy angels. Although there is little textual evidence (cf. p. 146) for including the word “holy,” there can be no doubt that holy angels are meant. For the association of the angels in the work of judgment see on Dan. 7:10; Rev. 5:11. For their ministry on behalf of men see on Heb. 1:14. For the presence of the angels at the second coming of Christ see on Matt. 24:30, 31; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17.

Then shall he sit. That is, as King (v. 34) and Judge (vs. 32, 34, 41).

Throne of his glory. Or, “His glorious throne.” Christ was seated upon the throne of the universe prior to His incarnation (DA 22, 23). Upon His ascension He was once more enthroned (AA 38), as Priest and King (Zech. 6:13; AA 39), and shared His Father’s throne (DA 832; Rev. 3:21). At the completion of the work of investigative judgment, begun in 1844 (see on Rev. 14:6, 7), Jesus will receive “His kingdom” (GC 426, 613, 614; EW 55, 280). The final coronation and enthronement of Christ as King of the universe takes place at the close of the millennium, before all men — those who are subjects of His glorious kingdom and those who have refused allegiance to Him.

By SdaBc