Signs of Christ's Return

The Judgment of the Nations--Part 3
by
John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved

(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE)
Matthew 25:32-46    Tape GC 2380

Introduction

The Bible has much to say about judgment. Psalm 7:11 says, "God is angry with the wicked every day." Psalm 1:5 says, "The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment." The Bible speaks frequently of judgment because God is continually concerned about dealing with sin.

Many people think biblical references to judgment are largely restricted to the Old Testament, saying, "In the Old Testament God was always judging people and destroying whole nations. But in the New Testament, God is presented as a God of love." However, the message of judgment is equally prominent in the New Testament. And God is presented as a God of love in the Old Testament. The only difference between Old and New Testament portrayals of God as judge is in the nature of the judgment imparted.

A. Temporal Judgment

The judgments of the Old Testament generally have to do with temporal judgment on earth. When God imparted judgment in the Old Testament, it was to destroy a nation or to punish a person. That emphasizes God will raise up and put down certain people or nations. It's true that temporal judgment appears in the New Testament (Ananias and Sapphiras in Acts 5:1-10; Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6-11; Herod Agrippa in Acts 12:21-23; and the judgment on Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37-39 and other towns in Matthew 11:21-23). But that's not the emphasis of the New Testament.

B. Eternal Judgment

The New Testament primarily focuses on eternal judgment. It warns that those who rebel against God are lost souls not only in life, but forever. John the Baptist warned the Jewish religious leaders of that future judgment, saying, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ... he [Christ] will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Matt. 3:7, 12). John 3:36 says, "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." When Paul told Felix about the judgment to come, Felix trembled (Acts 24:25). In Romans 1:18 Paul says, "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "The Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified" (1 Thess. 4:6). Hebrews 10 warns of the fury that will devour God's adversaries and says "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (vv. 27, 31). Hebrews 12:29 says, "Our God is a consuming fire."

James wrote, "He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shown no mercy" (James 2:13). In 1 Peter 4:17 we read, "The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" Second Peter 2 speaks about the swift destruction false teachers bring upon themselves and the condemnation that the ungodly will face. Jude uses the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of the eternal fire the ungodly will face someday when Christ returns to execute judgment.

The book of Revelation has several warnings about eternal judgment. Revelation 14:10-11 says that unbelievers will "drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation ... and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night." In verse 19 we read of an angel that "thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God." Revelation 19:15 says this about Christ's return: "Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Those whose names are not found in the book of life at the Great White Throne Judgment will be "cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death" (Rev. 20:14).

Warnings about eternal judgment appear also in the gospels. No one said more about judgment than Jesus did. He spoke of a sin that wouldn't be forgiven (Matt. 12:31) and the danger of losing one's soul forever (Mar, 8:36). He spoke of destruction (Luke 21:20-24), outer darkness, and weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 22:13). His words about judgment were intense. So we shouldn't be surprised that at His return He will say to the unsaved, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41).

Some people think Jesus spoke only of love and kindness, but He also spoke about eternal judgment. Why did He speak of both? Because if you love someone, you warn him if he's in danger. It would be unloving not to warn a person about danger. Therefore if Jesus had not said anything about eternal judgment, we could say He was unloving. But He warned of judgment many times. That shows He really cares about people. Christ wasn't apathetic about the eternal destiny of men. He warned of judgment so that people might be drawn to salvation.

Review

I. THE JUDGE 

II. THE TIME OF JUDGMENT 

III. THE PLACE OF JUDGMENT 

IV. THE SUBJECTS OF JUDGMENT 

Lesson

V. THE PROCESS OF JUDGMENT

A. The Separation

Matthew 25:32 says, "Before [Christ] shall be gathered all the nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." Christ will separate people into two groups, just as a shepherd separates his sheep from his goats. Even today in the land of Israel you will see mixed herds of sheep and goats all over the hillsides. Frequently shepherds have to divide them at feeding time and whenever they rest. That's because sheep and goats don't feed well or rest well together. Sheep are docile, easily led, and easily scared. Goats are unruly, fearless, and create all kinds of problems for the sheep. So just as a shepherd separates his sheep from his goats, the Lord Jesus Christ will separate believers from unbelievers at His return. The believers will be taken into His kingdom to join the other saints and the goats will be put out of His kingdom.

Matthew 25:33 adds another detail about the separation process: "[Christ] shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." In ancient Israel the right hand was considered the hand of blessing and honor. It was the hand of inheritance. The gentle, submissive sheep were preferred over the unruly goats, who represent those who won't receive any blessing. When the patriarch Jacob wanted to bless his grandsons Manasseh and Ephraim, he was very careful about whom he put his right hand on, because that person would become the heir (Gen. 48). Joseph, the father of the two boys, wanted Jacob to put his right hand on Manasseh, who was the firstborn. But Jacob put his right hand on Ephraim, because that's who was to receive blessing and inheritance.

B. The Sentencing

1. Of the righteous

What will happen to those Christ places at His right hand? Matthew 25:34 says, "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Believers on earth at the end of the tribulation will be invited to enter Christ's kingdom. They will be able to stay on the earth, for Christ will set up His earthly rule right then and there.

Notice Matthew began verse 34 by saying, "Then shall the King say unto them." The emphasis of Matthew's gospel is on Jesus as the King. And by the time Matthew writes of Christ's return, He addresses Christ as the King because He is about to establish His kingdom and begin His reign. In Matthew 24:30 Christ calls Himself the Son of Man, which was a title of humility. But now that He is ready to set up His kingdom, He is called the King. And in Greek, Roman, and Jewish tradition, the favored people of a king or a judge were placed at his right hand.

a) The invitation

On what basis did Christ invite those on His right hand to come into the kingdom? He said, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and ye gave me food; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me" (Matt. 25:34-36). Some people think those verses teach salvation by works because it seems like Christ is letting them into the kingdom because of their kindness and social work. However, Matthew 25:34 makes clear the basis for entrance into the kingdom.

(1) It's based on God's blessing

Matthew 25:34 begins, "Come, ye blessed of my Father." The source of those people's salvation was God's blessing. They will enter into the kingdom because of God's sovereign grace; God redeemed those people out of His sovereign love. Verse 34 implies the innate reality of salvation and justification.

(2) It's based on an inheritance

The next clue pointing to salvation by grace and not works is the word "inherit" in verse 34. A person inherits something because he is a member of the family. To receive an inheritance from God means you belong to the family of God. That status is achieved by placing your faith in Christ (Titus 3:5; John 1:12). If you are a child of God, you are a joint heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17).

(3) It's based on God's plan

At the end of Matthew 25:34 Jesus says, "Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (emphasis added). When God prepared the kingdom, it was for you that He prepared it. You were ordained to be a part of His kingdom (Eph. 1:4-5). And whomever God chose to be in His kingdom will go into it. He won't lose anyone (John 6:39). Notice that the kingdom was prepared "from the foundation of the world." The inhabitants of God's future kingdom were destined to enter His kingdom even before the world was made. They didn't make a place for themselves in the kingdom by being good to people.

So Matthew 25:34 says that the basis of a person's entrance into heaven is God's grace, not good works. The good deeds mentioned in Matthew 25:35-36 are merely the fruit that will be manifest in the lives of the redeemed. A passage that expresses the concept in Matthew 25:34 is 1 Peter 1:3-4: "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." Peter was saying that God chose us by His mercy, and has reserved an inheritance in heaven for us.

Christ mentions the good works of those on His right hand to show that judgment can legitimately be based on our deeds because they are a manifestation of what's really inside of us. Redemption results in good works (Eph. 2:8- 10). If you're a Christian, it should be obvious by the way you live. Christ won't say, "Come into My kingdom, even though no one but you and I know that you are saved." He will say, "I invite you to come into My kingdom because God has chosen you, and it's obvious you are a chosen one because of the way you lived." The mark of a true believer is righteousness. And in Matthew 25:35-36, the specific virtue Jesus focuses on is sacrificial love.

How does a believer show sacrificial love? In Matthew 25:35- 36 Jesus mentions six ways: by ministering to those who are hungry, thirsty, in need of a place to stay, improperly clothed, sick, and imprisoned. Such people demonstrate they belong to Christ by their good deeds. The kingdom is for those who meet the needs of others. When Christ was on earth, the greatest needs people had were food, drink, housing, clothing, care in times of sickness, and help when they were in prison. Those same needs exist today, along with many others.

b) The inquiry

The response of those invited into Christ's kingdom is amazing. Matthew 25:37-39 says, "Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee; or thirsty, and give thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in; or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" Notice verse 37 begins, "Then shall the righteous answer" (emphasis added). It doesn't say, "Then shall the good doers answer." Those who are placed at Christ's right hand aren't there because of their own good deeds, but because God imputed righteousness to them.

c) The illustration

How did Christ answer the questions of the righteous? Matthew 25:40 says, "The King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Who are His brethren? Hebrews 2:11-12 says Christ is not ashamed to call believers His brethren. So Christ was saying in Matthew 25:40, "Whatever you do to meet the need of a fellow Christian, you do to Me." There are other verses confirming that whatever we do to a believer we do to Christ. First Corinthians 6:17 says, "He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." Paul says in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me."

Jesus Himself said, "Whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me" (Matt. 18:5). He was talking about believers, His spiritual children, not a physical child. When you strengthen, encourage, or help another believer, you are doing the same thing to Christ. Jesus said, "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me" (Matt. 10:40).

1. Is shown in your actions

When Christ returns to the world in judgment, some will say, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out demons? And in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Matt. 7:22). And the Lord will answer, "I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (v. 23). Why didn't Christ ask them into His kingdom? Because good deeds don't qualify a person to enter the kingdom, only the inner reality of salvation by God's grace does. Some people will try to enter the kingdom on the basis of a few good deeds done with a flair. But a true believer manifests the indwelling presence of the living God through continuous acts of love. That's what Jesus calls us to do in John 13:35: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

The proof of a believer's salvation is in the routine things he does. In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul challenges us to examine ourselves to make sure that we're in the faith. Our actions reveal who we really are. Romans 2:6-7 says God "will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath." True salvation manifests virtue, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Pet. 1:5-7).

What did you do last week to meet the need of someone else? When is the last time you put aside a luxury you wanted to give a needy person something he needed? Have you shared your time, prayers, thoughts, instruction, love, kindness, or substance with anyone recently? Have you recently visited someone who is sick or in prison? Perhaps they have a family who needs your care. A truly redeemed person will manifest his Father's characteristics. That's what Jesus did when He came into the world. When John the Baptist sent a messenger to Jesus to find out if He was the Messiah, Jesus answered, "Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them" (Matt. 11:4-5). He was saying He was indeed the Messiah because He was meeting the needs of hurting people.

It's sad that we live in an utterly indulgent society. We often forget that we ought to be giving of ourselves. Service rendered to another Christian is a mark of true salvation. There will be plenty of opportunities for believers who live through the tribulation to render service to other believers. Many people will be without food, water, and clothing during the tribulation. There will be shattered lives and families. There will be sick and imprisoned people. If any believers encounter those difficulties, it will be another believer who comes to their rescue.

Would Christ be able to say to you now, "Come into My kingdom; I know you were chosen before the foundation of the world because I see My Father's love in your life"? The answer lies in what you are doing now for other people.

2. Is shown in your attitude

Notice the humble attitude of the believers in 25:37-39. They don't know why the Lord is commending them. They won't proudly say, "Yes Lord, I deserve to enter the kingdom because I was once Philanthropist of the Year." They will say, "God, I did what you wanted me to do, but there was so much more I should have done!"

I'm sure you have felt you could be doing so much more for others. You may recognize that you have been insensitive to the needs of others. We won't always be giving food to the hungry or clothes to the poor because most of us live in a well-to-do society. But there is always a need for encouragement, love, and kindness. A true Christian will seek to meet those needs. John said, "Whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassions from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:16).

In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Christ identifies Himself with the least of His brethren. Some of us might look at another believer and say, "He's nothing. I'm not going to waste my time on him; I don't want to get involved with his situation." But Christ identifies with that person, and we are to meet his needs. In fact, it's usually the least of Christ's brethren who need the most help. God help us to prove we are His children by rendering service to each other!

2. Of the unrighteous

a) The command

What will Christ say to those placed at His left hand? Matthew 25:41 says, "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."

Hell was prepared for Satan and the fallen angels. The angels, who were once pure and holy, cannot be redeemed, so God made a place of everlasting destruction for them. And with them He will send those who chose to rebel against Him. Notice verse 41 doesn't say hell was made for unbelievers. That's because God created man for fellowship with Himself. But those who reject Him will go away with the rebellious angels into everlasting fire--they will be eternally separated from God.

In Matthew 25:42-43 Jesus continues, "I was hungry, and ye gave me no food; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not." They never demonstrated the love of God in their lives. They didn't reflect His presence. They never gave of themselves to meet the needs of others.

b) The claim

Those whom Christ condemns will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?" (v. 44). That's like saying, "Lord, if we had known You were around, we would have met Your need. When did we fail to take care of You?"

c) The confrontation

Matthew 25:45 states Christ's response to those on His left: "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." The unregenerate never minister to the saints with love as their motive.

The dialogues in Matthew 25:34-45 tell us two things: People are saved because they are chosen by God, and they are damned because of what they don't do. In the parable of the ten virgins, five were rejected from the kingdom because they failed to be prepared--not because they were immoral or wretched. They failed to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Of the three servants who were entrusted with their master's money in Matthew 25:14-30, which one was rejected from the kingdom? The one who didn't do anything with the talent he was given. Failure to put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is all that's needed to condemn you. Without belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, a person lacks the righteousness and love of God.

d) The condemnation

Matthew 25:46 tells us the fate of unbelievers: "These shall go away into everlasting punishment." Zechariah 14 describes some of what will happen at that moment: "The Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.... And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will smite all the peoples that have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth" (vv. 9, 12). The people on the Lord's left side will be consumed instantaneously. As Matthew 25:46 says, they will go into everlasting punishment. They will be removed from the earth. And Matthew 25:46 ends by saying, "The righteous [will go] into eternal life."

Some people don't want to believe God will punish unbelievers eternally. But Matthew 25:46 says they will go into everlasting punishment. They will "go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:43-44). They will go into an eternity without God. At the end of Christ's thousand-year reign they will return for their final sentencing at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

Conclusion

Our Lord ended the Olivet Discourse with a warning. When is He coming? We don't know the exact moment. We should be ready at all times because irreversible judgment will occur when He comes. At Christ's right hand will be the sheep who received the Savior and were made righteous. Their righteousness will be manifest by their works. At Christ's left hand will be the goats--unbelievers who do not possess or manifest the love of God. The sheep will be invited into the kingdom, and the goats will be removed from the earth and sent into eternal punishment.

There will be only two places in eternity. Every person has to choose where he will be. You will either be in the kingdom or in everlasting fire. And the issue isn't what you do, but what you don't do. Not to receive Christ is to reject Him. And that will ultimately determine your final destiny.

Focusing on the Facts

1. What perceptions do many people have of what God was like in the Old and New Testaments? Are the perceptions accurate? Explain (see p. 1).

2.What is the primary nature of the judgment God imparted in the Old Testament? How is it different from the judgment spoken of in the New Testament (see p. 1)?

3.Was Jesus unloving when He spoke about judgment? Explain (see p. 2).

4.What is the first action Christ will take when He returns to judge the world (see p. 3)?

5.What is the significance of being placed by Christ's right hand? by His left hand (see p. 3)?

6.What will Christ say to those at His right hand (Matt. 25:34; see p. 3)?

7.Christ commends those at His right hand for doing the good deeds listed in Matthew 25:35-36. Some people interpret that to mean that salvation is earned by works. How does Matthew 25:34 refute that viewpoint (see p. 4)?

8.Why did Christ mention the good works of those at His right hand (see p. 5)?

9.How did those at Christ's right hand respond to His invitation (Matt. 25:37-39)? What was Christ's answer to their inquiry (Matthew 25:40; see p. 5)?

10.When you strengthen, encourage, or help another _________, you are doing the same thing to ________ (see p. 6).

11.What two things basically prove that a person is saved? Comment on each (see pp. 6-7).

12.What will Christ say to those at His left hand? Why (Matt. 25:41-43; see p. 8)?

13.What claim will be made by the people at Christ's left hand (Matt. 25:44)? How will Christ respond to that claim (Matt. 25:45; see p. 8)?

14.What two things do the dialogues in Matthew 25:34-45 tell us (see p. 8)?

15.What do some people not want to believe about the punishment of unbelievers? How do Matthew 25:46 and Mark 9:43-44 refute their wishful thinking (see p. 9)?

16.What is the issue regarding one's eternal destiny? Explain (see p. 9).

Pondering the Principles

1.In Matthew 25:34 Christ affirms that salvation is by grace and not by works. Many psuedo-Christian groups today teach salvation by works. Read John 3:17-18; Romans 3:28, 5:1-2, 10:9-10; and Titus 3:5. Memorize those scripture references so that you will always be prepared to affirm the teaching of God's Word on the basis for salvation. Another key principle is that even though salvation is by grace, it will be manifest by our works. According to Ephesians 2:8- 10, we are saved by grace and "created in Christ Jesus for good works" (v. 10; NASB). God has designed to conform us to the image of Christ, and He is doing it through His power, not our own. That shows the abundance of God's grace to us! Thank Him for His grace and seek to exalt Him by continually doing good.

2.The reason Christ spoke frequently about future judgment was to call men to salvation. He loves all men, and doesn't want to see anyone sentenced to eternal condemnation. Think about the way you have shared the gospel with non-Christians in the past. Do you usually talk about the benefits of receiving Christ without bringing up the consequences of not receiving Him? It's important to do both. Don't be afraid to warn of future judgment. Let the person you are sharing with know that you are warning him because you love him. The high price of being straightforward may be rewarded by the gain of a new brother or sister in Christ!

Added to the John MacArthur "Study Guide" Collection by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986