Many of you are probably familiar with the Greek story of the Odyssey. In that story, King Odysseus comes to his home on Ithaca after having been away for twenty years. He first comes to his home disguised as a beggar. That way he can test the character of those in his household - his wife, his son, his servants, and the suitors of his wife who were abusing her hospitality. Once he learns what he needs to do, he reveals himself and slaughters the wicked and embraces the faithful.
Even before the time of the Odyssey, God had done something similar. He had sent angels in the form of men to Abraham and to Sodom to test their character. Sarah, Abraham, and Lot were shown to be godly and were blessed, while the men of Sodom were shown to be consumed by unnatural passions and were consumed by fire.
In this passage, Jesus teaches that he is currently testing the world, to see who are truly his disciples and who are not. He knows the hearts of men, just as God knew the hearts of Abraham and the men of Sodom, but to magnify his justice and grace he often tests the heart to see what deeds it produces. Their hearts are tested by how they treat his people.
The point made in this passage is that your eternal destiny depends on your relation to King Jesus, and that relation will be expressed and demonstrated by your treatment of his people.
1. There will be a final judgment presided over by Jesus the King.
Verses 31-33 set forth the final judgment of all by the Son of Man when he comes in all his glory. The three preceding parables had united the themes of return and judgment, and now it is presented without the form of a parable.
Jesus had spoken of himself as "the Son of Man" who would ascend in glory to the Father's right hand in accordance with the vision of Daniel 7. The judgment of Jerusalem would be a sign of this coming, this exaltation in heaven. Now he teaches that this coming in power would culminate with his return for the final judgment. He will return as he ascended, in his glory and to exercise authority. As the angels told the disciples at his ascension, "This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Upon his return, the Son of Man shall gather “all nations.” The judgment will be universal. You will all be there. Jesus shall be the judge on that day. He will be the shepherd and king. He shall separate all individuals into two groups.
What mere man could presume to claim such a thing? Indeed, what mere man could describe his coming as he has been doing throughout all the preceding parables? Who would claim that his arrival would signal the end of the age? Who would claim that he would be the king who would judge all people? Only one who is God could be capable of this great work.
And not only that, but Jesus goes on to say he will judge them on the basis of what they did or didn’t do to him. Clearly, Jesus did not present himself as a mere teacher and example. He presented himself as the King of the world, the Lord of the angels, the only source of salvation.
2. Jesus shall pronounce two sentences.
Compare the two sentences pronounced by the King (25:34-46):
Upon his return, the Son of Man shall gather “all nations.” The judgment will be universal. You will all be there. Jesus shall be the judge on that day. He will be the shepherd and king. He shall separate all individuals into two groups.
What mere man could presume to claim such a thing? Indeed, what mere man could describe his coming as he has been doing throughout all the preceding parables? Who would claim that his arrival would signal the end of the age? Who would claim that he would be the king who would judge all people? Only one who is God could be capable of this great work.
And not only that, but Jesus goes on to say he will judge them on the basis of what they did or didn’t do to him. Clearly, Jesus did not present himself as a mere teacher and example. He presented himself as the King of the world, the Lord of the angels, the only source of salvation.
2. Jesus shall pronounce two sentences.
Compare the two sentences pronounced by the King (25:34-46):
- His right (honor) vs. his left (dishonor)
- Blessed vs. cursed
- Come vs. depart
- Jesus, angels, and saints vs. the devil and his angels
- Inherit the kingdom vs. the eternal fire
- Openly praised vs. openly condemned
- Eternal life vs. eternal punishment
How great the blessings! How horrible the curses!
Some of the descriptions of hell in the Bible could seem to describe annihilation, but passages like this make it clear that not only is hell eternal, but the punishment undergone there is eternal. Just as some people go into "eternal life," some go into "eternal punishment" (25:46). As the parables point out, it is not a place where people cease to exist, but a place of weeping and the gnashing of teeth. It is a place where God’s holy and just wrath against sin shall be manifest, no longer held back. It is easy to underestimate these things in the present day, but things will be seen in their true light on that day. Jesus spoke of hell quite a bit in order to warn people ahead of time, so that you might heed the warning and appreciate the grace of God and embrace it.
Remember that any sacrifice or self-denial or mortification of a beloved sin that you undertake as a disciple of Christ is worth it. Better to make these sacrifices than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Remember that any persecution or suffering endured for his sake is worth it. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).
Remember the glorious end that awaits those who have followed the Lord Jesus. Even though you deserve eternal punishment, he has secured the gift of eternal life for sinners by his death and resurrection. Hold fast to him and live in this hope.
3. The righteous will be distinguished by their deeds of mercy to the saints.
King Jesus distinguishes those who are blessed by their deeds of mercy and love to the saints. Such deeds he counts as deeds done unto him. He had, as it were, come to them through his disciples, testing them. What he lists is not an exhaustive list of good works, but we should still heed the examples he gives:
These are deeds of mercy, expressing love towards the needy. Jesus had taught his disciples to be merciful, just as the Father is merciful and as he is merciful. He said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matt. 5:7). He warned that those who refused to forgive others would not be forgiven. He exhorted you to lay up treasures in heaven and to be generous toward the needs of others, for their sake and God's glory rather than for the praise of man.
They are good deeds toward Christ’s brothers. Christ identifies with and esteems his disciples, even the “least” of “these my brothers.” Jesus had already made this point in his ministry. In Matthew 10:41-42, he said to his disciples,
Those without the gospel will still be judged justly for their sins. But in view here are particularly those who encountered Christ’s disciples. This anticipates the fact that his disciples will go out into all the nations. Did they embrace the gospel and manifest love toward his disciples, or did they fail to bear fruit?
Notice that the commission or omission of good works identifies people as Christ’s disciples or not. It is not enough to merely refrain from bad things. You are called to exercise love. As David Dickson observes, “Love to Christ’s people, and real deeds of charity, especially manifesting that love, are true marks of faith in Christ, and of election to eternal life, as here appears.”
The apostles picked up on this truth. James wrote that pure religion involves visiting orphans and widows in their affliction, and that a faith is dead which is unaccompanied by works like clothing and feeding the brother or sister in need. He used the example of Rahab’s hospitality to the spies. John wrote, “if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). The author of Hebrews warned his audience about apostasy, but then said that he felt sure of better things in their case, things that belong to salvation, adding “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” (Heb. 6:10, see also Heb. 13:1–3). Likewise, Paul exhorted the Galatians, “let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (6:9–10).
As good as these deeds are, they do not merit what Jesus bestows, nor do they atone for sin. The blessing is an inheritance for his disciples, purchased by his redemptive work, not earned by their works. As John Chrysostom said, “while the one [group is] punished justly, the others are crowned by grace. For though they had done ten thousand things, the munificence were of grace, that in return for services so small and cheap, such a heaven, and a kingdom, and so great honor, should be given them.”
That last day will not be a day of shame for believers, but a day of honor. As we see here, Christ will praise his disciples for their good deeds. He will acknowledge them, he will acquit them on the basis of his righteousness, and he will praise their loving service and good deeds, welcoming them into their blessed inheritance.
Conclusion
Your eternal destiny depends on your relation to King Jesus, and that relation will be expressed and demonstrated by your treatment of his people. Receive the Lord Jesus now, and show your love for him by your love and mercy to his disciples. For what you do to them, you do to the King.
Some of the descriptions of hell in the Bible could seem to describe annihilation, but passages like this make it clear that not only is hell eternal, but the punishment undergone there is eternal. Just as some people go into "eternal life," some go into "eternal punishment" (25:46). As the parables point out, it is not a place where people cease to exist, but a place of weeping and the gnashing of teeth. It is a place where God’s holy and just wrath against sin shall be manifest, no longer held back. It is easy to underestimate these things in the present day, but things will be seen in their true light on that day. Jesus spoke of hell quite a bit in order to warn people ahead of time, so that you might heed the warning and appreciate the grace of God and embrace it.
Remember that any sacrifice or self-denial or mortification of a beloved sin that you undertake as a disciple of Christ is worth it. Better to make these sacrifices than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Remember that any persecution or suffering endured for his sake is worth it. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).
Remember the glorious end that awaits those who have followed the Lord Jesus. Even though you deserve eternal punishment, he has secured the gift of eternal life for sinners by his death and resurrection. Hold fast to him and live in this hope.
3. The righteous will be distinguished by their deeds of mercy to the saints.
King Jesus distinguishes those who are blessed by their deeds of mercy and love to the saints. Such deeds he counts as deeds done unto him. He had, as it were, come to them through his disciples, testing them. What he lists is not an exhaustive list of good works, but we should still heed the examples he gives:
- I was hungry and you gave me food
- I was thirsty and you gave me drink
- I was a stranger and you welcomed me
- I was naked and you clothed me
- I was sick and you visited me
- I was in prison and you came to me
They are good deeds toward Christ’s brothers. Christ identifies with and esteems his disciples, even the “least” of “these my brothers.” Jesus had already made this point in his ministry. In Matthew 10:41-42, he said to his disciples,
Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
In Matthew 18:5-6, after telling his disciples to humble themselves like children, he said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…” Then he warned against despising one of “these little ones.” In Matthew 23:34-35, he said judgement would come upon Jerusalem because of the way it would treat those whom he would send to it.
Those without the gospel will still be judged justly for their sins. But in view here are particularly those who encountered Christ’s disciples. This anticipates the fact that his disciples will go out into all the nations. Did they embrace the gospel and manifest love toward his disciples, or did they fail to bear fruit?
Notice that the commission or omission of good works identifies people as Christ’s disciples or not. It is not enough to merely refrain from bad things. You are called to exercise love. As David Dickson observes, “Love to Christ’s people, and real deeds of charity, especially manifesting that love, are true marks of faith in Christ, and of election to eternal life, as here appears.”
The apostles picked up on this truth. James wrote that pure religion involves visiting orphans and widows in their affliction, and that a faith is dead which is unaccompanied by works like clothing and feeding the brother or sister in need. He used the example of Rahab’s hospitality to the spies. John wrote, “if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). The author of Hebrews warned his audience about apostasy, but then said that he felt sure of better things in their case, things that belong to salvation, adding “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” (Heb. 6:10, see also Heb. 13:1–3). Likewise, Paul exhorted the Galatians, “let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (6:9–10).
It should be a great spur unto such deeds to remember that as you showed love to the least of Christ's brothers, you showed it to Christ himself. He reckons such deeds as done to himself. He takes it personally. If you love Christ, then love his people, even the least of them.
As good as these deeds are, they do not merit what Jesus bestows, nor do they atone for sin. The blessing is an inheritance for his disciples, purchased by his redemptive work, not earned by their works. As John Chrysostom said, “while the one [group is] punished justly, the others are crowned by grace. For though they had done ten thousand things, the munificence were of grace, that in return for services so small and cheap, such a heaven, and a kingdom, and so great honor, should be given them.”
That last day will not be a day of shame for believers, but a day of honor. As we see here, Christ will praise his disciples for their good deeds. He will acknowledge them, he will acquit them on the basis of his righteousness, and he will praise their loving service and good deeds, welcoming them into their blessed inheritance.
Conclusion
Your eternal destiny depends on your relation to King Jesus, and that relation will be expressed and demonstrated by your treatment of his people. Receive the Lord Jesus now, and show your love for him by your love and mercy to his disciples. For what you do to them, you do to the King.
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