NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passages: Matthew 25:31-46
Discussion Questions:
- What does this passage teach us about Jesus’ role in the final judgment?
- What evidence distinguishes between a righteous and unrighteous person?
- How should the prospect of eternal judgment influence the way we respond to those who don’t know Christ?
Food for thought:
Annual performance reviews can create both anticipation and anxiety. Many employees experience this year after year. In most cases, managers have a metric or checklist by which they evaluate your work performance. In some unfortunate cases, an employee has no clue what the criteria will be for the review. It is helpful to know the benchmarks we are striving for as we fulfill our daily responsibilities.
While these verses are preceded by parables about Jesus’ return, Matthew 25:31-46 is not a parable. It is a prophecy about the coming time when the Son of Man will sit in judgment. The words “glory” and “glorious” (v. 31) speak of Jesus’ heavenly splendor, majesty and radiance.
Jesus will separate the nations into two distinct groups. He compared it to separating sheep from goats. In first-century Israel, sheep and goats often grazed together. While sheep tend to be obedient, goats can be troublemakers. Because of this, shepherds sometimes separated the sheep and goats.
The right side of a throne was seen as the place of honor. To those put in this place of honor, Jesus said “come” (v. 34), meaning they would be rewarded. He added that this group was “blessed by My Father” (v. 34). The reward was based on the sheep’s ministry to the King. In each case, the King received the care the sheep provided. While they were rewarded for their works, these acts of mercy did not save them. Their actions were an outflow of a relationship with God that existed already.
Thanks to their selfless motivation, the sheep (the righteous) in the prophecy expressed great surprise at the King’s praise. They wondered when they had experienced the privilege of helping Him. The King shared that when they ministered to His “brothers and sisters” (v. 40) they also were ministering to Him. The sheep were honored for their positive response to the Gospel, both in accepting it themselves and in living it out for others to see.
Just as He had commended the sheep, the King condemned the goats. The judgment mirrors the words spoken to those at His right hand. However, instead of “come,” the King said “depart” (v. 41). Instead of blessed, they were “cursed” (v. 41). Instead of a kingdom prepared, there was “eternal fire prepared” (v. 46). Originally, this fire was not created for the wicked but for the devil and his angels. Still, the goats were sent to a place of eternal punishment because they rejected Jesus. They demonstrated this lack of faith in the way they treated His people. This corresponds to the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” described in Matthew 24:51. It is a place of eternal punishment and eternal separation from God.
Matthew’s message in these verses is important. The way we treat Jesus’ followers reveals the nature of our relationship with Him. Our words and actions matter; they evidence a heart devoted to the Lord or one that fails to honor Him.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Spend time evaluating how much you show compassion and ministry to others. Consider ways you can engage in acts of compassion this week.
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/ExploreTheBible.
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