' ' Choosen Destination (Heaven or Hell)

Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31–46 ““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to yo…”

Introduction

Like our GPS In life God allows us to choose what route we are going to take, You know on your GPS when you put in your destination and it gives you choices on on how you want to get there, well Good does the same .

THE COMING JUDGMENT ON GENTILES (25:31–46)

When the Lord returns “in His glory,” He will judge not only the nation Israel (as in the Parable of the 10 Virgins [vv. 1–13] and the Parable of the Talents [vv. 14–30]) but also the Gentiles. This is not the same as the great white throne judgment, which involves only the wicked and which follows the Millennium (Rev. 20:13–15). The judgment of the Gentiles will occur 1,000 years earlier in order to determine who will and will not enter the kingdom.

The King “on His throne” (v. 31) will extend an invitation to those on His right hand, the sheep, to enter the kingdom God had prepared … since the Creation of the world. The basis of their entrance is seen in their actions, for they provided food, drink, clothing, and care for the King (vv. 35–36). The King’s statement will prompt the sheep to respond that they do not recall ever having ministered directly to the King (vv. 37–39). The King will answer that they performed these services for the least of these brothers of Mine, and by so doing were ministering to the King.

The forces of the world dictator will be doing everything possible to exterminate all Jews (cf. Rev. 12:17). A Gentile going out of his way to assist a Jew in the Tribulation will mean that Gentile has become a believer in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation. By such a stand and action, a believing Gentile will put his life in jeopardy. His works will not save him; but his works will reveal that he is redeemed.

25:41–46. To the goats on His left hand (cf. v. 33) the King will pronounce judgment. They will be told, Depart … into the eternal fire prepared not for men but for the devil and his angels (cf. “the kingdom prepared,” v. 34). The basis of their judgment will be their failure to extend mercy to the remnant of Jewish believers during the Tribulation. Their lack of righteous works will evidence their unconcern (vv. 42–44; cf. vv. 35–36). Such individuals will sympathize with the world dictator and support his cause. They will be removed from the earth and will be cast into “eternal fire” (v. 41) to undergo eternal punishment (v. 46). With all wickedness removed in the various judgments at the Second Advent, the kingdom will begin on earth with only saved individuals in physical bodies constituting the earthly kingdom as the King’s subjects. Glorified saints from Old Testament times and the church, the bride of Christ, will also be present to share in the reign of the King of kings.

In this extended prophetic sermon, Jesus answered His disciples’ questions about the sign of His coming and the end of the Age (24:4–31). He also presented practical lessons for those who will be living at that time (24:32–51), encouraging them to faithfulness, watchfulness, and preparedness. By way of application these lessons are relevant to all believers in any Age. He concluded by pointing out the establishment of the kingdom and the judgment of Jews (25:1–30) and of Gentiles (vv. 31–46).

The parable of the sheep and the goats (25:31–46) continues the theme of judgment displayed in chapters 23–25. A comparison of Jesus’ usage of brother (Gk. adelphos) elsewhere in Matthew (esp. 12:46–50; 23:8; 28:8–20) indicates that here he is speaking (vv. 40, 45) not of the poor and oppressed generally, but specifically of his disciples.

The nations are distinguished from the brothers (v. 40) and are judged according to the way they have treated the brothers. A comparison with 10:40–42 reveals that they respond to the brothers in their capacity as Jesus’ representatives. The sheep are those who receive the gospel of the kingdom and its bearers and the goats are those who reject them. The brothers experience the deprivations reflected in 25:35–36 because of their allegiance to Jesus (cf. 5:10–12; 10:16–23; 24:9–14).

Like the two preceding parables, and those of 13:24–30, 36–43, 47–50, this one depicts the division of the last judgment (v. 32). Palestinian shepherds commonly herded sheep and goats together but separated them at day’s end (sheep, with their heavy wool, needed less shelter than goats). As animals of greater value and of lighter color, the sheep represent the redeemed.

Those from among the nations who receive Jesus’ emissaries will surely be rewarded with salvation (25:34; cf. 10:41–42). That the kingdom is “prepared … since the creation” underscores the certainty of the reward and offers hope amidst present trials. Those who fail to minister to Jesus’ followers, and thereby demonstrate their hostility or indifference toward the message they bear and the Christ they represent, will suffer eternal loss (25:41–46).

Jesus’ compassion for the materially and physically needy is everywhere evident. Yet his chief concern is man’s relationship to God, not his environment; and his singular mission is to save from sins (1:21), not from poverty or hunger (cf. comments on 4:2–4; 5:3–10). This mission and responses to it are in view as Jesus concludes this final discourse (chaps. 23–25).