Unit: Matthew
Theme: Jesus Is Lord
Lesson Text: Matthew 25:31-46
Supplemental Text: Matthew 25:1-30; Revelation 20:1-15; Psalm 96:9-13; John 5:22-23
Aim: Live ready for the Lord of Judgment.
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Download a PDF of this week’s lesson material (the Study by Mark Scott, Application by David Faust, and Discovery Questions by Michael C. Mack): LOOKOUT_December18_2022.
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By Mark Scott
Judging someone else might be the worst cultural sin in America right now. To pass judgment on someone is anathema. We do need to be careful with it (Matthew 7:1), but we must also judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24). Jesus came as a Savior the first time. When he returns, he will come as our judge. In fact, all judgment has been given to Jesus by the Father so that all will honor the Son (John 5:22-23). He is Lord of Judgment. The diamond of the gospel shines brightest on the black cloth of judgment.
Our lesson text is the last section (parable?) of the fifth discourse in Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 24–25). It is known as the Olivet Discourse because Jesus delivered it on the Mount of Olives (the only mountain named in Matthew). Jesus had predicted the temple would be destroyed. The disciples figured that might be the end of the world, so they asked him when this would happen and what would be the sign of his coming and the end of the age (Matthew 24:3). The two-chapter discourse is Jesus’ answer to both questions. The temple would be destroyed in AD 70, but his return would be in the distant future. Scholars do not agree on when Jesus finished answering one question and started answering the second (perhaps at Matthew 24:13-14? 24:15? 24:27? 24:29?). But there seems to be agreement that Jesus was speaking of his return by at least Matthew 24:36.
Jesus ended the discourse with an Old Testament reference (Noah and the flood), some cultural norms (men in fields and women grinding at the mills), and parables (master of the house and the thief, faithful and wise servant, ten virgins, talents, and the sheep and goats). Our text tells of the sheep and goats, which some say is not a true parable. Even if it is not, it certainly has parabolic elements.
The Lord of Judgment Will Come
Matthew 25:31-33
The parables in Matthew 25 indicate we should “be ready” like the five wise virgins (vv. 1-13), “be prepared” like the two faithful servants (vv. 14-30), and “be loving” like the sheep in the separation from the goats. Jesus started this section with his favorite third person personal reference, Son of Man. There can be no confusion about what he meant by that divine title, for he then used the term King (vv. 34, 40).
When this Son of Man King comes, he will come in glory (shiny brilliance and weighty presence). He will come with his angels. He will take up the judgment of the nations (global judgment) on his glorious throne (Revelation 20:11-15). The judgment will begin with the separation of people, similar to how a shepherd separates sheep from goats at day’s end. In many ways, God’s judgment involves separation from the presence of the king (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
The Lord of Judgment Says ‘Come’
Matthew 25:34-40
One of Jesus’ favorite words was come (Matthew 11:28). He used it in reference to the sheep (people) blessed by his Father. These compassionate folks could take their inheritance . . . prepared . . . since the creation of the world. It was not as if they did their good deeds to be seen by men (Matthew 6:1) or in an attempt to earn their salvation (Galatians 2:16). In fact, they were surprised (probably due to their humility—vv. 37-39) when the king commended them.
They were invited in because their faith caused them to express their compassion with food, drink, hospitality, clothing, help with illness, and even by taking care of the needs of people who were in prison. When these good folks expressed surprise, the king answered by saying that when they acted compassionately to the least of these brothers and sisters, it was as if they were serving Jesus.
This text is misunderstood if one concludes that humanitarian effort earns heaven. It may also be misunderstood if applied generically—i.e., to all humanity (though we are to do good to all men—Galatians 6:10). “Brothers” in Matthew’s Gospel refers to the Christian community. At the very least, Jesus might be commending Christians taking care of Christians.
The Lord of Judgment Says ‘Go’
Matthew 25:41-46
To the goats (uncompassionate people) on the left Jesus will say, “Depart” (i.e., go up and away). These people were cursed and will go into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Revelation 20:7-10). Their lack of compassion was underlined with the same response (“when did we see you hungry or thirsty?”). While some have embraced what is called annihilationism (sinners simply die and cease to exist), church history is more on the side of eternal punishment being “forever dying.” That is due to the flip side of eternal life (which we think of as forever alive). Being forever alive sounds like the best of Christmas gifts.
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