Matthew
25:31-46
Lesson 53
25:31-46
Lesson 53
Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus describes the future 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. |
Margin notes:
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory." (25:31) - "When Jesus Christ comes again in glory." This will be The Second Coming of the Messiah. The prophet Daniel foretold Jesus' Second Coming in Daniel 7:13-14, over six hundred years before His first coming. How could Daniel have known this unless he was inspired by God? Additional note: Jesus repeatedly promised He would return (Matthew 16:27; 24:27; 24:29-30; 24:37; Mark 8:38; Luke 17:28-30; 21:27; John 14:2-3. "Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory." (25:31) - Jesus will reign from His throne when He returns. Christians eagerly anticipate the Second Coming, as it will mark the day when Satan is defeated, and sin and death are conquered forever. "Before him shall be gathered all nations." (25:32) - "Before Him will be gathered all the people of the world." "He shall separate them one from another." (25:32) - "He will separate the people into two groups." This passage reinforces Jesus' teaching from verses 13:47-50. This separation of people will occur during the final judgment of those still living at the time of Jesus' return (35:31). "He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." (25:33) - "Jesus will put the sheep (representing Gentile believers) on His right hand and goats (Gentile unbelievers) on the left." To learn the fate of believers, see verse 25:34. For the sad fate of unbelievers, see verses 25:41 and 25:46. "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat." (25:35) - "For I was hungry, and you gave me food." "Righteous." (25:37) - "Believers." "When saw we thee an hungred." (25:37) - "When did we see you hungry?" "Insomuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (25:40) - "Whatever you've done for the least of my brothers and sisters, you've done for me." Some believe that Jesus refers to all people as His "brethren." Others feel that He is specifically referring to Christians as His brethren (Mark 9:41). Still others believe He is referring just to His fellow Jews. What do you think? "Did not minister unto thee." (25:44) - "Did not help you." "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." (25:45) - See also Proverbs 14:31; 17:5. "Everlasting punishment." (25:46) - Means eternal, never-ending, perpetual, continuous, permanent punishment. "The righteous into life eternal." (25:46) - The righteous will enjoy everlasting life in paradise (John 3:15; 36) as prophesied in Daniel 12:2 2500 years ago. |