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Parables of Judgment - Matthew 25
Parables of Judgment - Matthew 25
Jesus will return and will sit in judgment upon each individual.
Chapter 24 ends with these warnings:
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (24:36)
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. (24:42)
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (24:46)
Chapter 25 begins with the parable of the ten bridesmaids and that section ends: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (vs. 13).
The parable of the talents ends: “...to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 25:29-30).
Jesus’ description of the judgment states: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left” (Matt. 25:31-33).
Verse 34 states: "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
We read in verse 41: "Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Jesus concluded this section by warning that “...these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (vs. 46).
One judgment, two ends. Disciples are either prepared and serving according to ability, OR they will face condemnation. There is no escaping the judgment seat of Christ. The question we sing bears oft repeating: “Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready for the judgment day?”
Hugh DeLong
