And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Christ comes in glory with the holy angels, sits on the throne, gathers all nations and separates them into only two classes, and as the final sentence He sends the wicked away into everlasting punishment and brings the righteous into life eternal in the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. Eternal destiny turns on one test of what was done or left undone for Him in the person of the poor and suffering, for He counts care or neglect of even the least of His brethren as done to Himself. That test is feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the stranger, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and those in prison, in whom He Himself was hungry, homeless, poorly clothed, sick and bound. The righteous do not realize they served Christ because He is interwoven into character, while the wicked are unconscious of guilt because they trained themselves in self-indulgence and shut themselves away from the poor. Mere church membership and profession do not secure heaven, for good works are the fruit of genuine faith and even small acts done from love are accepted, while stewardship of gifts, time, resources and influence is examined and selfish squandering on pride and luxury is condemned.
Judgment Scene and Setting
The verse closes the great Judgment day when the Son of man comes in glory with all the holy angels, sits upon the throne of glory, has all nations gathered before Him, and separates them as a shepherd divides sheep from goats, setting the sheep on the right hand and the goats on the left into but two classes, the just and the unjust, the righteous and the unrighteous. The final division in the last days is into only two parties, those on the right and those on the left, with no third class. Eternal destiny is determined by one point, what was done or neglected for Christ in the person of the poor and the suffering, for He identifies His interests with fallen man and counts what is done to the least of His brethren as done to Himself. Those on the right inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world because they fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, took in the stranger, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and those in prison, yet they do not know they have ministered to Him because Christ is interwoven into character. Those on the left go away as cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels because they gave no food, drink, shelter, clothing, or visitation to Christ in the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned, and they are not conscious of guilt or neglect because they educated and trained themselves in the school of self-indulgence.
The verse belongs to Christ's instruction in Matthew 25, including the parable of the talents, which calls people to use God-given abilities and opportunities faithfully in self-denying work for the salvation of others. That discourse was given shortly before entering Gethsemane, after a day of teaching and warning that had left Him weary. It describes His second coming at the close of earth's history, when the lost and the righteous will be separated forever with eternal consequences. Before the great sign of the coming of the Son of man there will be signs and wonders in the heavens.
The verse gives the King's final sentence in His parabolical representation of the partition between sheep and goats, closing words that decide forever the destiny of the two classes and picture the character God accepts to educate men and women for what must be done for the soul. The words demand attention from all who have ears to hear and intellect to comprehend, and are given to engage attention and subdue the heart. In that judgment Christ sits as supreme Judge on the Father's throne, coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory escorted by angels, stooping from His throne to catch every sound from the human race and approving or condemning every action according to its good or evil nature, and His decisions admit no appeal, even pronouncing sentence on His enemies including those who accused Him. The judgment sits and the books are opened and the dead are judged out of what is written in the books according to their works, revealing the principles of eternal justice. Angels are commissioned to witness through the length and breadth of the earth the struggle of every suffering mortal against evil, to lend divine aid, and to register how men treat their human brotherhood, especially regard for the poor, ignorant, and afflicted.
Those who wear religion as a mask, do as they please following the imaginations of their own evil hearts, suppose God honors the rich and esteems those in high positions as they do, show little regard for the poor, give no encouragement to virtue and no consolation and substantial help by which the poor might be relieved, and aid degradation as if there were no God, no heaven, no hell, stand condemned in that public reckoning. Everlasting punishment falls not only for the most revolting crimes and actual outbreaking sins but especially for neglecting to do what might have been done and ought to have been done, failing to obtain the moral qualifications placed within reach when divinity was clothed with humanity to bring moral power to fallen man to become a laborer together with God, as illustrated by those who had knowledge of truth but no oil, no grace, no living connection, no vitalizing of the Holy Spirit, no saving faith with Christ as personal Saviour, no growth in grace and knowledge, and were not doers of His words. Life eternal belongs to those who look to Jesus, study His life, behold Him and are changed into His likeness, work in His lines, obtain deeper knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and become transformed in character as fit subjects for the kingdom, members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King.
The coming Judgment decides the cases of all, including ministers, who must answer for what they have done for Christ. Its contrast between everlasting punishment and eternal life underscores lasting consequences, presenting the destinies of the sheep on the right and the goats on the left as distinct and forever separated. Warning the world of that Judgment is a great and solemn work, and the example of those who profess the truth will save a few and condemn the many, leaving them without excuse in that day. Salvation is offered to every person through faith in Christ, though not all will be saved, and the righteous are to be prepared for everlasting life while sinners who will not become acquainted with the will and ways of God are appointed to destruction.
Two Eternal Destinies
The verse sets two final and forever-separated outcomes, with the wicked going away into everlasting punishment and the righteous entering life eternal in the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. The separation is made by how people treated Christ in the person of those in need, for neglect or mercy toward the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned is counted as done to Himself because He identifies Himself with His suffering people. This instruction is to be studied against the record of one's own life, putting away boasting and self-sufficiency to follow Him in humble obedience, remembering that He came in humble humanity, endured temptation without sin, and knows human trials.
Life eternal belongs to those who choose life, resist sin, and take pleasure in righteousness and true holiness, and who look to Jesus, study His life, behold Him, and are changed into His likeness. Such are transformed in character, gain deeper knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, work in Christ's lines, and become fit subjects for the kingdom of God as members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King. For them eternal life means entrance into God's everlasting kingdom and city, while the wicked are shut outside the gates and see the contrast with shame, lamentation, and woe when they awake to their lost condition too late.
Everlasting punishment falls by the sinners' own choice when opportunity to repent and be converted was offered, through dishonoring the Redeemer, scorning mercy, refusing the love of God, and choosing the service of Satan and his side of the controversy. It comes upon those who corrupt their ways, defile their bodies, and persist in secret evil thoughts and vile acts, and it is not confined to open crimes but falls especially for neglecting to do what might and ought to have been done and for failing to obtain the moral qualifications placed within every sinner's reach. When the judgment sits and the books are opened, they are judged out of what is written in the books according to their works, sentence is pronounced, they are shut out from the city of God with the ungodly, and miserably perish with the wicked.
The judgment and its eternal rewards and punishments make Christ's coming at the close of earth's history a solemn reason to prepare now. When sin's results are seen and God's commandment-keeping people are honored, the value of eternal life will be clear and God's government will be vindicated. Since Christ's coming ends the time for work and the character then possessed is retained, all are answerable for how they treated those around them, including whether they shared Scripture and prayed with neighbors, and the prospect of family and close associates being among the lost warns against impatience, unchristlike disposition, and uncontrolled self that make religion distasteful.
Test of Service to Christ
Eternal destiny turns on one test, what was done or what was neglected for Christ in the person of the poor and the suffering. He identifies Himself and His interests with fallen humanity and with His suffering followers, so that care or neglect, mercy or injustice toward even the least of His brethren is counted as done to Himself. The judgment therefore distinguishes the two classes by whether they served Him through acts of care for those in need, and helping the sick and poor is serving Him.
The test covers giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, shelter to the stranger, clothing to the naked, and visiting the sick and those in prison. It was He Himself who was hungry and thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, and in prison. He was famishing in hovel or street not far from those enjoying food from bountifully spread tables, homeless with nowhere to lay His head when doors were closed against Him while well-furnished rooms stood unoccupied, destitute of comfortable apparel while wardrobes were filled with abundant changeable suits needlessly squandered that might have been given to the needy, sick while others enjoyed health, and cast by misfortune into prison and bound with fetters, bowed down in spirit and deprived of freedom and hope while others roamed free.
Those set on the right to inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world do not know they have ministered to Him, and though they will not have realized they were serving Christ, what they did for one of the least of His brethren they did for Him. They are not conscious of what they have done because Christ is interwoven into character, and ministering to those driven from homes, brought to poverty, distressed by disease and privation, and cast into prison is recognized as the evidence of discipleship. Those on the left go away as cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels because they gave no food, no drink, no shelter, no clothing, and no visitation to Christ in the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned, and their failure to serve the least was failure to serve Him. They are unconscious of guilt and of their neglect because they educated and trained themselves in the school of self-indulgence, because Satan has blinded them, and because they are self-absorbed and care nothing for others' needs. The rich in particular shut themselves from the poor in costly dwellings and churches while spending on pride and selfishness the means given to relieve suffering, feasting while He famished, living at ease while He had nowhere to lay His head, hoarding clothing while He was destitute, pursuing pleasure while He languished in prison, doling only a pittance to the starving and flimsy garments against frost, and refusing all their lives to seek Him and enter into fellowship with Him in these afflicted ones near them, until they hear His verdict that He knows them not. Their failure costs them heaven and the eternity of bliss they might have had by devoting their powers to God, so He must be brought into everyday life.
Condemnation falls not only for evil deeds but also for failing to do the good Heaven assigned, for living without responsibility and thinking only of self and self-pleasing, and Heaven is for those who work and deny themselves for Him. The judgment holds people accountable not only for sins committed but also for good they could have done and failed to do, including neglecting to develop and use the abilities and opportunities made available to them. Those who squandered means on pride and luxury while others suffered hunger and nakedness will be condemned by the poor rising in judgment against them, and those left in degradation will bear witness against the people and professing Christians who neglected those who could have been helped.
The righteous who enter life eternal include those born into the heavenly family who cherished His principles by blessing others even when they knew little theology. That life includes heathen who never heard the words of life yet cherished kindness, befriended missionaries at peril of life, worshiped God ignorantly, heard His voice in nature, and did the things the law required, proving the Holy Spirit touched their hearts, so they will not perish but are recognized as children of God and heirs of salvation. They will be surprised and gladdened to hear His approval that what was done for one of the least of His brethren was done for Him, and Infinite Love will rejoice in their joy. The test is regard for the poor, ignorant, and afflicted, with angels witnessing through the earth the struggle of every suffering mortal and registering how men treat their brotherhood, so that those who wear religion as a mask, follow the imaginations of their own evil hearts, honor riches and high position, show little regard for the poor, give no encouragement to virtue and no consolation and substantial help by which the poor might be lifted, and aid degradation as if there were no God, no heaven, no hell, stand condemned to receive according to evil works into everlasting punishment unless they repent and reform, while active mercy to the fallen and oppressed belongs to life eternal.
Faith Character and Stewardship
Having one's name on the church book does not secure entrance into heaven, and mere profession of faith does not count as genuine. Those who serve through selfish, deceptive principles have no place in the kingdom, for false principles and selfishness cannot enter heaven. Good works are the fruit of genuine faith that comes from justification by faith, not a substitute for it. Love shown in works is genuine, and even small acts done from love are accepted and rewarded, including self-denying work for the salvation of others.
The final judgment turns on practical benevolence and examines stewardship of what has been entrusted, holding each person accountable for its use. That reckoning covers gifts, time, resources, influence, and truth, as well as tact, skill, and worldly treasure, and whether the hungry were fed, the thirsty given drink, the stranger welcomed, the naked clothed, and the sick and imprisoned cared for. Means must not be squandered on selfish indulgence, pride, and luxury while need goes unrelieved, for neglect of the needy is counted as neglect of Christ Himself.
Position in this life gives no acceptance, and riches gained by clever schemes and sharp dealing give no justification. Christ condemns robbing Him by withholding entrusted talents of tact, skill, and worldly treasure instead of using them to relieve suffering, advance the gospel, and cooperate with Him. Such ones are receivers but not producers, neglecting the widow and fatherless, refusing to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, loving to be thought rich while accumulating wealth by withholding His money from the poor. Every act of oppression, double dealing, and fraud is registered, and seeking to become rich in this world's goods causes loss of heavenly treasure, leaving them poorest, with no profit though the whole world be gained at the loss of the soul.
The instruction in Matthew 25:14-46 is to be studied by every person and compared with his own life record. All boasting and self-sufficiency must be put away as fearfully dangerous, because self-trust makes Christ's words of no effect. The call is to walk humbly in His footsteps in true faith and to commit oneself day by day and hour by hour to the Saviour, constantly receiving and imparting His grace. He came in humble humanity and endured temptation without sin, so sinners need not think Him unfamiliar with their trials, and preparation means meeting the Lord's expectation. All face the same judgment, and God the eternal Creator and owner of all worlds judges without error, with no compulsion, threats, harsh words, or condemnation imposed arbitrarily, while salvation is offered to every person through faith in Christ though not all will be saved.
The same condemnation falls not only for revolting crimes and open outbreaking sins but especially for neglecting to do what might and ought to have been done. It falls on those who fail to obtain the moral qualifications placed within reach of every sinner when divinity was clothed with humanity to bring moral power to fallen man to become a laborer together with God. Like the five foolish virgins with lamps and a knowledge of the truth but no oil, they have no living connection with God, are not vitalized by His Spirit, receive not His grace, have no saving faith in Christ as a personal Saviour, are wise only in their own sight, and have not grown in grace and knowledge nor been doers of His words. Life eternal belongs to those who look to Jesus, study His life, behold Him and are changed into His likeness, work in His lines, obtain deeper knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and are transformed in character into fit subjects for the kingdom, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King.
Calls to Prepare and Serve
Matthew 25:46 calls for practical, self-denying work for Christ in the salvation of others by bringing Him into everyday life. Caring for the sick and the poor, showing hospitality to strangers, sharing Scripture and praying with neighbors, and meeting suffering people with sacrifice are counted as done to Christ Himself, while neglect of even the least of His needy and suffering followers is neglect of Him. The heavenly record of how a poor stranger was treated, whether with Christlike kindness or with oppression, will matter at the final settlement that separates the righteous to eternal life from the wicked to everlasting punishment.
Refusal by deliberate choice to sacrifice for Christ by welcoming and helping His suffering saints leads away into everlasting punishment, while overcoming as He exemplified through willing service in His saints leads into life. Christ's coming ends the time for work and preparation, and the character people have then is the character they retain, so preparation must be now and answerableness for treatment of others cannot be put off.
Wealth brings special accountability, for those entrusted with means are judged for using them selfishly on pride and luxury while others suffer hunger and nakedness instead of helping the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned. The poor will rise in judgment to condemn such squandering, since care for the poor and oppressed is care for Christ and neglect or abuse of His representatives carries eternal consequence. Family and household duties carry the same eternal weight, for a man who brings children into the world and then forsakes his rightful wife, casts support upon her, robs her of means rightfully hers, idolizes money and appetite, fails to pay honest debts for support, oppresses by selfishness and unholy passion, and lays stumbling blocks pushing wife and children toward perdition will go away into punishment with his name blotted from the book of life unless thoroughly converted. Life eternal belongs to those who even at the eleventh hour redeem the past, clear the track, confess and repair injury, make full restitution, do justice, show mercy, and overcome selfishness.
Those who harm and scatter vulnerable people will be called to account when the judgment sits and the books are opened at the close of earth's history, where the lost and the righteous are separated forever. Teachers who form others in wrong ways may thereby close heaven's gates to themselves. The prospect of family members and close associates being among the lost is a warning to examine whether impatience, an unchristlike disposition, or uncontrolled self has made religion distasteful to others.
Christ comes in glory with the holy angels, sits on the throne, gathers all nations and separates them into only two classes, and as the final sentence He sends the wicked away into everlasting punishment and brings the righteous into life eternal in the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. Eternal destiny turns on one test of what was done or left undone for Him in the person of the poor and suffering, for He counts care or neglect of even the least of His brethren as done to Himself. That test is feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the stranger, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and those in prison, in whom He Himself was hungry, homeless, poorly clothed, sick and bound. The righteous do not realize they served Christ because He is interwoven into character, while the wicked are unconscious of guilt because they trained themselves in self-indulgence and shut themselves away from the poor. Mere church membership and profession do not secure heaven, for good works are the fruit of genuine faith and even small acts done from love are accepted, while stewardship of gifts, time, resources and influence is examined and selfish squandering on pride and luxury is condemned.
Judgment Scene and Setting
The verse closes the great Judgment day when the Son of man comes in glory with all the holy angels, sits upon the throne of glory, has all nations gathered before Him, and separates them as a shepherd divides sheep from goats, setting the sheep on the right hand and the goats on the left into but two classes, the just and the unjust, the righteous and the unrighteous. The final division in the last days is into only two parties, those on the right and those on the left, with no third class. Eternal destiny is determined by one point, what was done or neglected for Christ in the person of the poor and the suffering, for He identifies His interests with fallen man and counts what is done to the least of His brethren as done to Himself. Those on the right inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world because they fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, took in the stranger, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and those in prison, yet they do not know they have ministered to Him because Christ is interwoven into character. Those on the left go away as cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels because they gave no food, drink, shelter, clothing, or visitation to Christ in the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned, and they are not conscious of guilt or neglect because they educated and trained themselves in the school of self-indulgence.
The verse belongs to Christ's instruction in Matthew 25, including the parable of the talents, which calls people to use God-given abilities and opportunities faithfully in self-denying work for the salvation of others. That discourse was given shortly before entering Gethsemane, after a day of teaching and warning that had left Him weary. It describes His second coming at the close of earth's history, when the lost and the righteous will be separated forever with eternal consequences. Before the great sign of the coming of the Son of man there will be signs and wonders in the heavens.
The verse gives the King's final sentence in His parabolical representation of the partition between sheep and goats, closing words that decide forever the destiny of the two classes and picture the character God accepts to educate men and women for what must be done for the soul. The words demand attention from all who have ears to hear and intellect to comprehend, and are given to engage attention and subdue the heart. In that judgment Christ sits as supreme Judge on the Father's throne, coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory escorted by angels, stooping from His throne to catch every sound from the human race and approving or condemning every action according to its good or evil nature, and His decisions admit no appeal, even pronouncing sentence on His enemies including those who accused Him. The judgment sits and the books are opened and the dead are judged out of what is written in the books according to their works, revealing the principles of eternal justice. Angels are commissioned to witness through the length and breadth of the earth the struggle of every suffering mortal against evil, to lend divine aid, and to register how men treat their human brotherhood, especially regard for the poor, ignorant, and afflicted.
Those who wear religion as a mask, do as they please following the imaginations of their own evil hearts, suppose God honors the rich and esteems those in high positions as they do, show little regard for the poor, give no encouragement to virtue and no consolation and substantial help by which the poor might be relieved, and aid degradation as if there were no God, no heaven, no hell, stand condemned in that public reckoning. Everlasting punishment falls not only for the most revolting crimes and actual outbreaking sins but especially for neglecting to do what might have been done and ought to have been done, failing to obtain the moral qualifications placed within reach when divinity was clothed with humanity to bring moral power to fallen man to become a laborer together with God, as illustrated by those who had knowledge of truth but no oil, no grace, no living connection, no vitalizing of the Holy Spirit, no saving faith with Christ as personal Saviour, no growth in grace and knowledge, and were not doers of His words. Life eternal belongs to those who look to Jesus, study His life, behold Him and are changed into His likeness, work in His lines, obtain deeper knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and become transformed in character as fit subjects for the kingdom, members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King.
The coming Judgment decides the cases of all, including ministers, who must answer for what they have done for Christ. Its contrast between everlasting punishment and eternal life underscores lasting consequences, presenting the destinies of the sheep on the right and the goats on the left as distinct and forever separated. Warning the world of that Judgment is a great and solemn work, and the example of those who profess the truth will save a few and condemn the many, leaving them without excuse in that day. Salvation is offered to every person through faith in Christ, though not all will be saved, and the righteous are to be prepared for everlasting life while sinners who will not become acquainted with the will and ways of God are appointed to destruction.
Two Eternal Destinies
The verse sets two final and forever-separated outcomes, with the wicked going away into everlasting punishment and the righteous entering life eternal in the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. The separation is made by how people treated Christ in the person of those in need, for neglect or mercy toward the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned is counted as done to Himself because He identifies Himself with His suffering people. This instruction is to be studied against the record of one's own life, putting away boasting and self-sufficiency to follow Him in humble obedience, remembering that He came in humble humanity, endured temptation without sin, and knows human trials.
Life eternal belongs to those who choose life, resist sin, and take pleasure in righteousness and true holiness, and who look to Jesus, study His life, behold Him, and are changed into His likeness. Such are transformed in character, gain deeper knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, work in Christ's lines, and become fit subjects for the kingdom of God as members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King. For them eternal life means entrance into God's everlasting kingdom and city, while the wicked are shut outside the gates and see the contrast with shame, lamentation, and woe when they awake to their lost condition too late.
Everlasting punishment falls by the sinners' own choice when opportunity to repent and be converted was offered, through dishonoring the Redeemer, scorning mercy, refusing the love of God, and choosing the service of Satan and his side of the controversy. It comes upon those who corrupt their ways, defile their bodies, and persist in secret evil thoughts and vile acts, and it is not confined to open crimes but falls especially for neglecting to do what might and ought to have been done and for failing to obtain the moral qualifications placed within every sinner's reach. When the judgment sits and the books are opened, they are judged out of what is written in the books according to their works, sentence is pronounced, they are shut out from the city of God with the ungodly, and miserably perish with the wicked.
The judgment and its eternal rewards and punishments make Christ's coming at the close of earth's history a solemn reason to prepare now. When sin's results are seen and God's commandment-keeping people are honored, the value of eternal life will be clear and God's government will be vindicated. Since Christ's coming ends the time for work and the character then possessed is retained, all are answerable for how they treated those around them, including whether they shared Scripture and prayed with neighbors, and the prospect of family and close associates being among the lost warns against impatience, unchristlike disposition, and uncontrolled self that make religion distasteful.
Test of Service to Christ
Eternal destiny turns on one test, what was done or what was neglected for Christ in the person of the poor and the suffering. He identifies Himself and His interests with fallen humanity and with His suffering followers, so that care or neglect, mercy or injustice toward even the least of His brethren is counted as done to Himself. The judgment therefore distinguishes the two classes by whether they served Him through acts of care for those in need, and helping the sick and poor is serving Him.
The test covers giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, shelter to the stranger, clothing to the naked, and visiting the sick and those in prison. It was He Himself who was hungry and thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, and in prison. He was famishing in hovel or street not far from those enjoying food from bountifully spread tables, homeless with nowhere to lay His head when doors were closed against Him while well-furnished rooms stood unoccupied, destitute of comfortable apparel while wardrobes were filled with abundant changeable suits needlessly squandered that might have been given to the needy, sick while others enjoyed health, and cast by misfortune into prison and bound with fetters, bowed down in spirit and deprived of freedom and hope while others roamed free.
Those set on the right to inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world do not know they have ministered to Him, and though they will not have realized they were serving Christ, what they did for one of the least of His brethren they did for Him. They are not conscious of what they have done because Christ is interwoven into character, and ministering to those driven from homes, brought to poverty, distressed by disease and privation, and cast into prison is recognized as the evidence of discipleship. Those on the left go away as cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels because they gave no food, no drink, no shelter, no clothing, and no visitation to Christ in the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned, and their failure to serve the least was failure to serve Him. They are unconscious of guilt and of their neglect because they educated and trained themselves in the school of self-indulgence, because Satan has blinded them, and because they are self-absorbed and care nothing for others' needs. The rich in particular shut themselves from the poor in costly dwellings and churches while spending on pride and selfishness the means given to relieve suffering, feasting while He famished, living at ease while He had nowhere to lay His head, hoarding clothing while He was destitute, pursuing pleasure while He languished in prison, doling only a pittance to the starving and flimsy garments against frost, and refusing all their lives to seek Him and enter into fellowship with Him in these afflicted ones near them, until they hear His verdict that He knows them not. Their failure costs them heaven and the eternity of bliss they might have had by devoting their powers to God, so He must be brought into everyday life.
Condemnation falls not only for evil deeds but also for failing to do the good Heaven assigned, for living without responsibility and thinking only of self and self-pleasing, and Heaven is for those who work and deny themselves for Him. The judgment holds people accountable not only for sins committed but also for good they could have done and failed to do, including neglecting to develop and use the abilities and opportunities made available to them. Those who squandered means on pride and luxury while others suffered hunger and nakedness will be condemned by the poor rising in judgment against them, and those left in degradation will bear witness against the people and professing Christians who neglected those who could have been helped.
The righteous who enter life eternal include those born into the heavenly family who cherished His principles by blessing others even when they knew little theology. That life includes heathen who never heard the words of life yet cherished kindness, befriended missionaries at peril of life, worshiped God ignorantly, heard His voice in nature, and did the things the law required, proving the Holy Spirit touched their hearts, so they will not perish but are recognized as children of God and heirs of salvation. They will be surprised and gladdened to hear His approval that what was done for one of the least of His brethren was done for Him, and Infinite Love will rejoice in their joy. The test is regard for the poor, ignorant, and afflicted, with angels witnessing through the earth the struggle of every suffering mortal and registering how men treat their brotherhood, so that those who wear religion as a mask, follow the imaginations of their own evil hearts, honor riches and high position, show little regard for the poor, give no encouragement to virtue and no consolation and substantial help by which the poor might be lifted, and aid degradation as if there were no God, no heaven, no hell, stand condemned to receive according to evil works into everlasting punishment unless they repent and reform, while active mercy to the fallen and oppressed belongs to life eternal.
Faith Character and Stewardship
Having one's name on the church book does not secure entrance into heaven, and mere profession of faith does not count as genuine. Those who serve through selfish, deceptive principles have no place in the kingdom, for false principles and selfishness cannot enter heaven. Good works are the fruit of genuine faith that comes from justification by faith, not a substitute for it. Love shown in works is genuine, and even small acts done from love are accepted and rewarded, including self-denying work for the salvation of others.
The final judgment turns on practical benevolence and examines stewardship of what has been entrusted, holding each person accountable for its use. That reckoning covers gifts, time, resources, influence, and truth, as well as tact, skill, and worldly treasure, and whether the hungry were fed, the thirsty given drink, the stranger welcomed, the naked clothed, and the sick and imprisoned cared for. Means must not be squandered on selfish indulgence, pride, and luxury while need goes unrelieved, for neglect of the needy is counted as neglect of Christ Himself.
Position in this life gives no acceptance, and riches gained by clever schemes and sharp dealing give no justification. Christ condemns robbing Him by withholding entrusted talents of tact, skill, and worldly treasure instead of using them to relieve suffering, advance the gospel, and cooperate with Him. Such ones are receivers but not producers, neglecting the widow and fatherless, refusing to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, loving to be thought rich while accumulating wealth by withholding His money from the poor. Every act of oppression, double dealing, and fraud is registered, and seeking to become rich in this world's goods causes loss of heavenly treasure, leaving them poorest, with no profit though the whole world be gained at the loss of the soul.
The instruction in Matthew 25:14-46 is to be studied by every person and compared with his own life record. All boasting and self-sufficiency must be put away as fearfully dangerous, because self-trust makes Christ's words of no effect. The call is to walk humbly in His footsteps in true faith and to commit oneself day by day and hour by hour to the Saviour, constantly receiving and imparting His grace. He came in humble humanity and endured temptation without sin, so sinners need not think Him unfamiliar with their trials, and preparation means meeting the Lord's expectation. All face the same judgment, and God the eternal Creator and owner of all worlds judges without error, with no compulsion, threats, harsh words, or condemnation imposed arbitrarily, while salvation is offered to every person through faith in Christ though not all will be saved.
The same condemnation falls not only for revolting crimes and open outbreaking sins but especially for neglecting to do what might and ought to have been done. It falls on those who fail to obtain the moral qualifications placed within reach of every sinner when divinity was clothed with humanity to bring moral power to fallen man to become a laborer together with God. Like the five foolish virgins with lamps and a knowledge of the truth but no oil, they have no living connection with God, are not vitalized by His Spirit, receive not His grace, have no saving faith in Christ as a personal Saviour, are wise only in their own sight, and have not grown in grace and knowledge nor been doers of His words. Life eternal belongs to those who look to Jesus, study His life, behold Him and are changed into His likeness, work in His lines, obtain deeper knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and are transformed in character into fit subjects for the kingdom, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King.
Calls to Prepare and Serve
Matthew 25:46 calls for practical, self-denying work for Christ in the salvation of others by bringing Him into everyday life. Caring for the sick and the poor, showing hospitality to strangers, sharing Scripture and praying with neighbors, and meeting suffering people with sacrifice are counted as done to Christ Himself, while neglect of even the least of His needy and suffering followers is neglect of Him. The heavenly record of how a poor stranger was treated, whether with Christlike kindness or with oppression, will matter at the final settlement that separates the righteous to eternal life from the wicked to everlasting punishment.
Refusal by deliberate choice to sacrifice for Christ by welcoming and helping His suffering saints leads away into everlasting punishment, while overcoming as He exemplified through willing service in His saints leads into life. Christ's coming ends the time for work and preparation, and the character people have then is the character they retain, so preparation must be now and answerableness for treatment of others cannot be put off.
Wealth brings special accountability, for those entrusted with means are judged for using them selfishly on pride and luxury while others suffer hunger and nakedness instead of helping the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned. The poor will rise in judgment to condemn such squandering, since care for the poor and oppressed is care for Christ and neglect or abuse of His representatives carries eternal consequence. Family and household duties carry the same eternal weight, for a man who brings children into the world and then forsakes his rightful wife, casts support upon her, robs her of means rightfully hers, idolizes money and appetite, fails to pay honest debts for support, oppresses by selfishness and unholy passion, and lays stumbling blocks pushing wife and children toward perdition will go away into punishment with his name blotted from the book of life unless thoroughly converted. Life eternal belongs to those who even at the eleventh hour redeem the past, clear the track, confess and repair injury, make full restitution, do justice, show mercy, and overcome selfishness.
Those who harm and scatter vulnerable people will be called to account when the judgment sits and the books are opened at the close of earth's history, where the lost and the righteous are separated forever. Teachers who form others in wrong ways may thereby close heaven's gates to themselves. The prospect of family members and close associates being among the lost is a warning to examine whether impatience, an unchristlike disposition, or uncontrolled self has made religion distasteful to others.