Matthew 25:29-46

29 See Mat_13:12; Luk_:8:18; Joh_15:2.

31 See Mat_19:28; Mar_8:38.

31 The many judgments in the Scriptures should be carefully distinguished as to time and place and participants and the attending circumstances. There is no “general judgment”, for the saints are judged in the cross of Christ. The individual judgment of the unbeliever for his sins does not take place in this life, but in resurrection. All mankind except those who are Christ's will be raised from the dead to stand before the great white throne, which is not set up until after the coming kingdom eon has run its course (Rev_20:11). The judgment here presented differs in time, in place, in character and in purpose. It occurs at the commencement of the kingdom, at His coming in glory, while the great white throne session does not take place until after the thousand years. This judgment is on the earth. The earth will flee before the great white throne (Rev_20:11). Living nations will appear before the Son of Mankind, but only the dead come before the later tribunal. The nations are judged as such, not their sins, but according to their treatment of Israel during the time of their affliction. When God is judging the earth no greater act of righteousness can be done than to feed and shelter His oppressed people. Each faithful Israelite stands in the place of Christ toward the nations. Those who help them do so at the greatest risk, for they may be called to account by the powers that oppose them. This tribunal is not concerned with their ultimate destiny, but with their place in the kingdom. The kingdom will be comprised largely of gentiles, subordinate to Israel politically and religiously, but nevertheless the recipients of much blessing. All that they receive comes to them through Israel, while the present grace which we enjoy comes to us because Israel as a channel is choked, yet the super-abundance of the grace overflows all barriers. We have every reason to treat the Jews with the utmost grace, but our conduct toward them is not a factor in our destiny. We do not enter the kingdom, because we have a higher and more honorable allotment among the celestials.

40 See Mat_10:42.

40 The “brethren” of Christ, in the kingdom, are His fellow Israelites, in contrast with those of other nations. These do not appear before this tribunal. Their judgment is dealt with in the preceding parables.

41 The Slanderer and his messengers will be the chief instigators of the fearful anti-Semitic outbreak of the end time. It will be the greatest of all pogroms, and men will be urged on by malignant spirit powers to do all that is possible to exterminate the people who refuse to worship Satan's christ, or to bow down to his image. Being superhuman, the wild beast and the false prophet will have their portion in that lake of fire into which the Slanderer is cast more than a millennium later (Rev_20:10).

46 Eonian chastening is here limited to the nations who will not succor the faithful of Israel in their time of sore distress. It has no bearing on the sins of individuals. The justice of fire eonian is disciplinary and corrective (cf Jud_1:7).

1-5 Compare Mar_14:1-2; Luk_22:1-2. See Psa_2:2; Act_4:25-28.

1 What a transition from the coming glories to the cross of shame! He has been filling their vision with pictures of Himself as an honorable Lord, a happy Bridegroom, a resplendent Sovereign attended by hosts of angelic servitors. No doubt they had little difficulty in accepting such scenes, for such were the characters of Christ which they could understand. All these portrayals are fulfillments of the festival of Trumpets and of Tabernacles, still six months away, suggestive of the long interval which has already intervened between His sayings and their still future realization. But the Passover was not so far away! It must be fulfilled first! The suffering must precede the glories. Only two days and the first great festival of the Jewish year would find its fulfillment in Him, Already the chief priests were choosing the passover Lamb. They do not want to do it in the festival, but that is the time ordained for the slaying of the type and that is the time when the Antitype must suffer. What a marvelous manifestation of God's wisdom, power and love is concentrated about the cross of Christ!

6-13 Compare Mar_14:3-9; Joh_12:1-8.