“But
when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:31-33
Matthew 25 [26.] “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25 [31.] “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
Matthew 25 [37.] “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’
Meaning:
Jesus’ long teaching on the Mount of Olives reaches its climax here. He has warned about the signs of the end, called his disciples to watchfulness in the parable of the ten virgins, and to faithful service in the parable of the talents. Now he describes the final judgement itself. This is not a parable in the usual sense but a prophetic picture, using the image of a shepherd and his flock. It is the last public teaching Jesus gives in Matthew before his arrest (Matthew 26:1-2).
- “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him”
“Son of Man” was Jesus’ favourite title for himself. It comes from Daniel’s vision of “one like a son of man” who came with the clouds of the sky and received everlasting dominion over all peoples (Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus had already said, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds” (Matthew 16:27). Zechariah had foretold, “Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with you” (Zechariah 14:5). The humble teacher who would soon be crucified speaks of himself as the glorious Judge of the world.
- “then he will sit on the throne of his glory”
Sitting on a throne is the posture of a king giving judgement. Jesus had promised the twelve that “when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory”, they too would sit on thrones (Matthew 19:28). In the following verses he calls himself “the King” (Matthew 25:34). John saw the same scene: “I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it” (Revelation 20:11).
- “Before him all the nations will be gathered”
No one is exempt. Through the prophet Joel God had said, “I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there” (Joel 3:2). Paul wrote, “For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
- “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats”
In Israel sheep and goats often grazed together during the day. In the evening the shepherd would separate them, since goats need more shelter from the cold night air. Everyone listening knew this familiar sight. God had used the same picture through Ezekiel: “Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the male goats” (Ezekiel 34:17). In that chapter God promised to shepherd his flock himself and to judge those who mistreated the weak.
- “He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left”
The right hand was the place of honour and favour. God says to the Messiah in the Psalms, “Sit at my right hand” (Psalm 110:1). The sheep, placed at the King’s right, are about to be welcomed into the Kingdom. The goats on the left will be sent away. The separation is complete and final.
The Significance of Matthew 25:31-33
- Jesus is the Judge
The one who will judge the nations is the same Jesus who died for sinners. This is both a warning and a comfort. He knows every heart perfectly, and his judgement will be just.
- Everyone will stand before him
Whether we believe it or not, every person will one day stand before Christ. This truth gives weight to how we live now.
- The Good Shepherd knows his sheep
The separation is not random. The Shepherd knows his own. Those who belong to him can face that day with confidence.
Cross-References:
Daniel 7:13: "there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man," The background of Jesus’ title.
Ezekiel 34:17: "Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the male goats." God judging his flock.
Matthew 16:27: "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds." Judgement by deeds.
2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ;" Everyone will appear before Christ.
Conclusion: Matthew 25:31-33 describes the Son of Man coming in glory with his angels to sit on his throne. All the nations are gathered before him, and he separates them as a shepherd separates sheep from goats, placing the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. The passage reveals Jesus as King and Judge of all, and calls every person to be ready to stand before him.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible