MATTHEW 25:31-46

KEY VERSE: “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” (Matthew 25:40).

Our final text on the TEACHINGS OF JESUS is the last series of WISDOM messages (Chapters 23-25) before HE told HIS disciples of HIS forth coming betrayal and crucifixion (26:2), and the subsequent plot to kill HIM (26:3-4). During this final discourse, the scripture says that HE was speaking to “the multitudes and HIS disciples” (23:1). However, our lesson text picks up after the last parable that JESUS taught, which we touched on in our previous studies, “The Parable of the Ten Talents.”

Very briefly, in that parable JESU taught that the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN was like a man who was preparing to travel “to a far country” and who called all of his servants together in order to distribute “his goods to them” (25:4). He gave one servant five talents, another he gave two and the final servant only one. The servant to whom he gave five talents gained five more, the one given two gained two more, however, the one servant given only one talent “hid his lord’s money” in the ground (25:5-18).

After a time, upon the return of the master, he discovered that the servant he had given five talents had gained five more, and likewise, the servant given two had gained two more. This pleased the master so much that he said to both servants, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (25:21, 23).

But the final faithless servant, who was given only one talent and went and “hid his lord’s money in the ground,” was not afforded the same blessing as the other two faithful servants. The lord ‘punished’ this “wicked and lazy servant” (v.26) by taking back from him the one talent given to him initially and gave it to the servant who was given five and gained five more (v.28).

Finally JESUS explained the ‘moral’ of the parable, “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (25:29-30). It is at this point in HIS message that JESUS closes with the WISDOM of the Judgment of the Nations, our text Matthew 25:31-46).

1. HOW DO YOU LIKE HIM NOW? (Matthew 25:31)

This scene in direct contrast to the one mentioned at the end of our introduction, where the “unprofitable servant” was cast “into the outer darkness” (v.30). This is the ultimate reward for those believers who have been as steadfast in their stewardship as the faithful servants who were given five and two “talents” and who used them wisely to the pleasure of “The Master. I don’t believe that theses two servants knew any more than the unfaithful servant that there was to be a “reward” coming as a result of their stewardship over the “master’s talents” entrusted to them. They did what they did, I believe, because of their unwavering devotion to the “master” and their sense of “mission.”

However, what this scene does for me personally is to justify the consistency in the acts and conduct of our LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST as HE walked on the face of the earth in the presence of man. For a long time it was difficult for me to understand how JESUS being who HE was and having the POWER AND AUTHORITY that HE had would allow the things that happened to HIM at the very hands of those whom HE came to redeem. Why would HE allow HIMSELF to be falsely prosecuted without uttering a word in HIS defense? Why would HE permit them to torture HIM and humiliate HIM in public for no legitimate reason? Why would HE allow them to hang HIM on a cross and then in turn in the midst of dying ask HIS FATHER to “forgive them?”

Well, this one verse answers it all for me, as it should for every believer. While the faithful stewards did not know what their reward would be, the SON OF GOD knew exactly of this glorious scene for both the “faithful” as well as HIMSELF. HE knew from whence HE came, thus, in turn, HE also knew that to which HE would return. This is the HOPE of every believer, to be a “witness and partaker” of this glorious occurrence. Thus, I say to myself and all others how do you like HIM now?

2. THE JUDGMENT OF THE RIGHTEOUS (vv.32-40)

In this section, JESUS first tells of the “gathering and separation” of the “nations” before the SON OF MAN. HE tells us that when HE “comes in HIS GLORY” then HE will divide all that stand before HIM into the “sheep” (the saved) and the “goats” (the unsaved). The saved have been set “on HIS right hand” and are due to “inherit the kingdom prepared for you (them) from the foundation of the world.”

But I must point out here that, as in the case of the stewards of the talents, the “sheep” were not aware of the reward that they had coming neither to them or for what reason. This JESUS had to explain to them. The reward was for their service to HIM. However, they did not realize that when they, “from the heart;” fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, took in a stranger, clothed the naked, or visited the imprisoned, that they were doing a service, not just to those individuals on the receiving end of those deeds, but that they were also rendering those deeds unto the LORD. For they questioned, “When did we see YOU hungry...thirsty... a stranger...naked...sick, or in prison?” It was only through HIS reply that they fully understood the magnitude of their unselfish deeds toward their fellow man “And the king will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these MY BRETHREN, you did it unto ME.

Thus, it is with all believers as they serve mankind in the name of JESUS. When they render their service they do it unto THE FATHER.

3. THE JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED (vv.41-46)

The final reward for the “sheep” (saved or believers) is in direct contrast to that of the “goats” (unsaved or unbelievers). While the scene mentioned earlier is played out in heaven, a place prepared for mankind, this scene depicted in this section is set in hell, a place prepared for Satan and his angels. They have no choice but to occupy that place, but a believer must make a choice for their final destination---Satan’s prepared hell or the believer’s prepared heaven.

For those who have not been faithful to their service to mankind, JESUS will say, “Depart from ME, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (v.41). Just as the righteous did not know that their service toward their fellow man was being rendered to THE MASTER, neither did the wicked realize that their lack of service toward their fellow man was a slight unto THE MASTER by the same token. They questioned, “LORD when did we see YOU hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to YOU?”

Thus, they were surely not prepared for HIS answer, “Assuredly, I say unto you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to ME. And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (vv.45-46).

Therefore, we can be assured that we will spend eternity somewhere, either heaven the prepared place for a prepared people, or hell the prepared place for Satan and all of his angels. The question is where will you spend your eternity? --The choice is yours.

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!

Spiritually Yours.

Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD