31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
The proceeding dialogue of Jesus sets the tone of todays readings, is focusing on prophecy and parables that illuminate future events, both concerning judgement but some are sooner than others as some concern eschatology, the end times. Matthew 25:31-46 is of an eschatological nature, the events Jesus are talking about concern the final judgement but also by extension our own particular judgements.
Before we get into Jesus’ sayings we should have a brief overview of Second Temple Jewish eschatology.
Many Jews anticipated a future “Day of the Lord,” a time when God would intervene decisively in history to judge the wicked, restore Israel, and establish His Kingdom. This day was often associated with cosmic signs, upheaval, and divine judgment (e.g., Joel 2:1-11; Zephaniah 1:14-18). There was widespread hope for a Messiah (anointed one, Christos in Greek) who would deliver Israel from oppression and restore the Davidic kingdom. Some expected a warrior-king, while others envisioned a priestly or prophetic figure, generally speaking someone who would restore Israel to its past glory, he had quasi-divine attributes that coalesces with the Two Powers in Heaven theology, an invisible Yahweh in Heaven and a Visible Yahweh on earth, this visible Yahweh would be the Son of man figure of Daniel, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of David.
Belief in bodily resurrection emerged during this period, particularly among groups like the Pharisees. This belief was tied to the idea of divine justice: the righteous would be raised to eternal life, while the wicked would face punishment (e.g., Daniel 12:2-3). Many Jews believed in a final judgment where God would judge all people, both the living and the dead. This judgment would be based on one’s deeds, with the righteous being vindicated and the wicked condemned. The concept of a “Great Assize” (a final courtroom scene) appears in some texts, where God or a divine figure (e.g., the Son of Man) presides over the judgment. This Great Assize will be of focus for todays readings.
Jesus, speaking in the third person, says that when he comes in his glory, with his angels, then he will sit on his throne. Daniel speaks of the Son of Man receiving authority and dominion but Jesus is already here so why is this judgement not happening? The answer is in the clue of “in his glory”. This references a time after his resurrection in his glorified body. He would go not to an earthy throne but a heavenly throne after his ascension following his rising from the dead.
32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
Now we see this as a future final judgement as all the nations are gathered before the Son of Man on his throne. This operates like the foretold Great Assize, the divine courtroom scene at the end of time. He separates people like a shepherd separates goats from sheep. Sheep are docile creatures that recognise the shepherds voice whereas goats are more headstrong and lack docility. In the same way a shepherd splits them up, so will the Son of Man split people up. One side the docile people who follow Jesus and the other, the goats who follow themselves.
The sheep, the good portion of people, will be placed at the Son of Man’s right hand. This is not just about dominant handedness but to do with rulership. To be at the right hand of a king was to share his rule. Saint Paul tells us we are co-heirs with Christ as he has made us into his body, we share rule with him. To be at his right hand is to partake in his divine authority. Those on the left, simply do not share in any of that. In the Jewish and Near Eastern context the right hand holds this universal place of honour, authority and blessing whereas the left was always considered lesser, unlucky or unfavourable.
34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
Speaking again in the third person but now with a royal title of “King”. Jesus says to those on the right that they are blessed, literally favourable of God, they will inherit the Kingdom prepared for them. This kingdom was waiting for them from the beginning of creation “from the foundation of the world”.
35 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,
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’
Jesus then goes on to list all the good works that these people did. Fed him when he was hungry, gave him water when he was thirsty, welcomed him when he was a stranger, clothed him, comforted him in sickness or in imprisonment. These are all good works, not simply believing something. This is articulated as the divider of action between them and those on the left. They did good works. Those in the story are confused and ask the King when did they do this? The king, Jesus tells them that every time you did it for the least, you did it for him. This is rather simple but powerful. The Word became flesh, bound himself by covenant to humanity, so when you do good works for others, you really do do it for Jesus himself.
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’
45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’
The King then turns to those on his left, he tells them to depart from the court for they are cursed. Curses are the repercussions for breaking a covenant. They are to be cast into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. This is not Hell, this is where they are destroyed at the end of time. Those that did none of the things that the people on the right did, the good works, will be cast away along with the rebellious angels. Those angels were once servants of God too but they broke their covenants with Yahweh and justice will be served. People are called to this service of God as well but if you break your covenant and do not repent, you get the same punishment.
46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
The cursed go to eternal punishment and the righteous receive eternal life. What is striking about these passages is how adamant Jesus is about good works since man-made churches have spent the last few centuries determined to say otherwise. That simply saying in your head “Lord, Lord” is enough, it isn’t and Jesus says explicitly that it isn’t.
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