Matthew 25:31-46
Q.1. What is the future event that Jesus was foreshadowing? When will this event take place? How will this differ from the Great White Throne Judgment? (Mt.25:31-33 c.f. Rev.19:11-16; 20:4-6; 11-15)
Jesus described – when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne (Mt.25:31 c.f. Mt.24:30-31). This will bring in the promise to Israel when the Messiah will set up His Millennial Reign (see Isa.2:2-4; 4:2-6; 9:6-7; 11:1-10). Christ will initially judge the nations that survive the Great Tribulation – All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Mt.25:32 c.f. Mt.24:21; Rev.20:4-6). This is not to be equated with the final Great White Throne Judgment that will usher in the eternal state, with a new heaven and new earth, which will come after the Millennial Reign of Christ (see Rev.20:11-21:3. At that time, the redeemed – came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed … (Rev.20:4-5). After that there will be no further opportunity for the unsaved to respond to the gospel. The Thousand Year Reign of Christ will reveal the absolute righteousness of God that has applied to every dispensation, from the Garden of Eden through to all eternity.
N.B. Matthew Chapter 25 is best understood by applying Christ’s teaching on (i) the Parable of the Ten Virgins to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb – Mt.25:1-13; (ii) the Parable of the Talents to the Judgment Seat of Christ – Mt.25:14-30 and; (iii) the Parable of the Sheep and Goats with the Judgment after the Great Tribulation and the entrance into the Millennial Kingdom of Christ – Mt.25:31-46).
Q.2. Will anyone living escape His judgment? What does the imagery signify? How was the choice of His sheep manifested? How is their faith in the King displayed? – (Mt.25:32-40)
There is no escape from Christ’s judgment when He comes to earth again in His glory – All the nations will be gathered before Him … and I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened … (Mt.25:32). This judgment will be on those who survive the Great Tribulation. Throughout the scriptures God is portrayed as the Shepherd of His people. Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. So, the imagery used by Jesus identifies people as His sheep, and the goats are the children of the Devil. Jesus confirmed that the redeemed are His chosen ones who – … inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Mt.25:34 c.f. Rom.8:29-30; Eph.1:4-5). Their faith in the King expressed itself in deeds of kindness and good works towards the helpless and defenseless of His brethren, Israel. When these people ask how this conclusion was reached – The King will answer and say to them, `Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ (Mt.25:40 c.f. Eph.2:10). Many misconstrue the meaning of – … to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them … (Mt.25:40). It refers to His own race of Israel and will be especially applicable during the Great Tribulation when the antichrist will persecute the people of Israel (see Jn.1:11; Rom.9:3-5; Rev.12:7-17).
Q.3. Who are the goats? How did they fail to please the King? What judgment will befall them? For whom was this judgment prepared? How final will this judgment be? – (Mt.25:41-46)
The goats are identified with the Devil and the fallen angels (see Mt.25:41). They failed to do good works in order to please the King – …`Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ (Mt.25:45). Jesus is not introducing a gospel of ‘good works’ but reveals their deeds must agree with His mission in the world. To mistreat His own is tantamount to rejecting the King. This judgment will exclude them from His presence – … Depart from Me, accursed ones … (Mt.25:41). They made a choice to reject the King and so prove to be the children of Satan. Consequently, they will share his destiny – in the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt.25:41). Their judgment will be final and everlasting as – These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (Mt.25:46). This teaching of Jesus should spur us on to ceaselessly seek the unsaved while there is still time. No one likes the idea of ETERNAL fire and punishment (least of all God who mounted a Rescue Mission to save lost sinners). You cannot explain away the everlasting nature of God’s damnation of sinners, since in verse 46 Jesus describes the reward for the righteous (in Christ) as ‘eternal’ life, and the judgment of the ungodly as ‘eternal’ punishment (see Mt.25:41 & 47). You can’t have one without the other.