Matthew 25:31-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment on the Realm of Heaven #4 Matthew 25:41-46

Matthew 25:31-46 – Judgment on the Realm of Heaven

MT25:31 “Further,[1] when the glorious Son of Humankind returns[2] with all his angels,[3] at that time he will sit down upon his glorious throne [of judgment].[4] MT25:32 He will gather together right in front of him[5] all those from the nations[6] and he will separate these persons from each other[7] just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.[8] [Ezekiel 34:17] MT25:33 He will make the sheep stand at his right-hand, but the goats at his left-hand.

MT25:34 “At that time the King will say to those on his right-hand: ‘Approach, those blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom[9] prepared for you from the world’s foundation.[10] MT25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.[11] [Isaiah 58:7] [I was] thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. MT25:36 [I was] ill-clad and you clothed me. I fell sick and you took care of me.[12] I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

MT25:37 “Then the righteous persons[13] will answer the King, asking, ‘Master, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or, thirsty, and give you drink? MT25:38 Also, when did we see you a stranger and take you in? Or, ill-clad and clothed you? MT25:39 Or, when did we see you sick, or in prison, and went to visit you?’ MT25:40 And the King will answer them: ‘I tell you this truth: Depending on how much you did to a single one of my humblest brothers, you did it to me.’[14]

MT25:41 “Then the King will also speak to those persons on his left-hand: ‘Depart from me, those who are cursed into the everlasting fire[15] prepared for the Devil and his angels! MT25:42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing[16] to eat. And, I got thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. MT25:43 I was a stranger and you did not take me in; ill-clad and you gave me no clothes; sick and in prison, and you did not look after me.’ MT25:44 Then [the goats] will respond: ‘Master,[17] when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or ill-clad or sick or in prison – and refused to minister to you?’ MT25:45 At this the King will tell them: ‘I tell you this truth: Depending on how much you refused to do to a single one of my humblest brothers, you refused to do it to me.’ MT25:46 And these goats will depart into an everlasting pruning;[18] but the righteous into everlasting life.”

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[15] Cursed into the everlasting fire: Or, NEB: the curse is upon you; go from my sight. The imagery is from Gehenna which is called the second death in Revelation.

[16] Gave me nothing: This is the sin of omission. Read and prayerfully meditate on James 4:17.

“ Therefore, the one knowing how to do good and yet not doing it–it is a sin.” (Jas 4:17 mhm)

[17] Master: The goats recognize the King as their Lord. They were members of the realm of profession, the Church. Note also Matthew 7:21, 22.

“21  Not everyone saying to me, ‘Master, Master!’ will enter the Heavenly Realm but the one doing the will of my heavenly Father.22 Many will say to me in The Day: ‘Master, Master, did we not prophesy in your name? And, in your name cast out demons? And, in your name did many dynamic works?’ (Mt 7:21-22 mhm)

[18] Into an everlasting pruning: Or, KJV: everlasting punishment. The Greek is EIS KOLASIN AIONION. KOLASIN is a rare word usually translated torment or punishment. The word is rooted in Strong’s #2849 and means, “1) to lop or prune, as trees and wings; 2) to curb, check, restrain; 3) to chastise, correct, punishment; 4) to cause to be punished.” The essential idea is lopping off or removing from a tree. Compare this idea in Romans 11:22-24.

“22 Observe, then God’s kindness and pruning upon those Jews who fell; but upon you non-Jews God’s kindness if you continue in that kindness, otherwise you also will be pruned off. 23 But, if those of Israel do not continue in their unbelief they will be grafted in, for God is powerful enough to graft them in again. 24 For, if you–originating from a naturally wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree–how much more will these natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree.” (Ro 11:22-24 mhm)

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Preceding

Matthew 25:1-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment by the King and Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Keep on the Watch

Matthew 25:14-30 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Keep Busy until the Parousia

Matthew 25:31-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment on the Realm of Heaven #1 Matthew 25:31-34

Matthew 25:31-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment on the Realm of Heaven #2 Matthew 25:34-36

Matthew 25:31-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment on the Realm of Heaven #3 Matthew 25:37-40

Helping websites to prepare for the last days

When you know or think we could be coming closer to the Last Days it can be interesting to have some comfort in helping material to make yourself strong enough to withstand the coming troubles. To make yourself immune against the adversary of the world its Creator, two new websites in English and three in Dutch came unto the market.

All of them are directed to those people who are looking for God and/or are aiming at those who are looking to build up a good relationship with God, the Divine Creator and to come in harmony with His creation.

It is not always easy to stand up against the treatment of this capitalist and over-consuming world, but we can armour us and help each other to be strong in the coming times of temptation and of uproar.

Relating to God (Weebly website) About page

Man can not see God and live (Exodus 33:20), but we do believe man can have a very good relation with this unseen God, Who is for many people in the world also an unknown God. Therefore we would love to get more people to know this loving God who wants to have a loving peaceful relationship with His creatures. “Relating to God” and Relating to God – blog” want to give an idea how to look for God, how to see and to take the right way to God, how to find God and how to make such a strong connection with the people around us, Jesus Christ, the son of God and with God so that the heavenly Father may be pleased with us.

Relating to God – Blog (WordPress) Relating-to God is it possible – article.

Our life is limited in time and it is crucial to make the best of it. The five new websites shall try to show their readers how we are able to make the best of our life and how we can ensure an even better life in the future.

The Dutch websites together are forming a triptych. As a three-master it wants to sail trough heavy waters of this system of times and things and bring people into the safe harbour which is prepared for all who want to come to God.

Op zoek naar God – 1° Component of the triptych about looking for God and the way to Him to come into a good relationship.

The first component is especially created for those who do not known much about God and wonder if He exists and what He can do for us. Being for those who are looking for God it has the appropriate title “Op zoek naar God” (Looking for God). The second component wants to show that in this world we do have different roads in front of us. We can choose out of many highways, but which one do we best choose to reach our destination? And which destination do you want to reach?

De weg naar God (The Way to God; 2° component of triptych)

With “De Weg naar God” (The Way to God) we want to show that the Nazarene rabbi Jeshua (Jesus Christ) is the way to God we should follow. This second component shall (for parts) also be integrated in the “Relating to God” sites (but than in English).

God vinden – Gereedsschapspagina (Tools page of Finding God)

As final part in the triptych you may find “God vinden” (Finding God), which shall tackle the important matter of finding God and to make an ally with God. The subjects spoken off there shall also be spoken off at the “Relating to God” sites.

We believe all people should be able to hear the Voice of God and find His Words to read easily. Therefore we want to proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom on the internet to reach as many people as possible. Those who know and love God already should be the ones who help to spread the Good Message. You too, can help to spread the good news by forwarding our messages and by liking them and sharing them on social media so that more people may come confronted with them.

If you do not have the writing pen in you, you do not have to think you can not help in the preaching work. Getting word around is part of our preaching work you can do as well. Witnessing comprehends the sharing of the material available to come to more knowledge. With those five new websites the Belgian Christadelphians do hope to bring the Gospel message to even more people. Wherever you are, whichever language you speak, you can bring others in contact with those websites so that they may find more material to read and to examine and to help them to comprehend the Holy Scriptures.

May we count unpon you, students of the Bible and all those interested in God, to share the existence of those new websites and the already existing and older websites to bring people in a good relationship with God, Jesus and each other?

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Find additionally to read:

1. For those on the Quest of their life
2. A way to prepare for the Kingdom
3. A Word and helping sites to give answers
4. When looking for God or wanting to relate to the Most High Divine God

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• ‘Are You Ready to Meet Jesus?’
• Talking in Church This Sunday
• LISTEN: From Death to Life, Part 1 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 54 with Daniel Whyte III)
• Good Friday Experience
• Phil Dayvault Presents Major New Evidence from Early Christianity
• Today’s Scripture…
• Not everyone in the churches of Christ are “ungodly”
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• Let us make sure we are not stiff-necked

There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving

There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.—Acts 20:35.

Wednesday night we look how we as people, who have so much, should not have to look for our luck or happiness in gathering all material things.

We do find people who think they found God, get baptised, and than think everything is all-right and they should not do anything any more because they are saved by the sacrificial offering of Christ. They do forget that faith without works is dead.

26 Indeed, just as the body without spirit* is dead,+ so also faith without works is dead.+ (James 2:26)

When we are baptised, having chosen to go for God, we do need to keep in line with God His Will and with God His commandments. As we can see in several books of the Old Testament, there have been men of God who first walked in the line of God, but got tempted by worldly attractions. They let themselves be carried away. Some of them even did lost interest in the previous told and written down Words of God.

“Death of King Saul”, 1848 by Elie Marcuse (Germany and France, 1817-1902) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Monday we saw (in the study readings of that day) how King Saul allowed selfish thinking and pride to develop, like corrosive rust.
Saul arrogantly built a monument to himself. (1 Sam. 15:3, 9) When the prophet Samuel told him that Jehovah was displeased, Saul tried to justify himself by focusing on the part of God’s command that he had obeyed and by blaming others for his error. (1 Sam. 15:16-21)
Saul’s experience shows that we cannot be complacent, assuming that if we previously showed a self-sacrificing spirit, we will automatically continue to manifest it. (1 Tim. 4:10)

Also Jeremiah’s secretary, Baruch, apparently forgot to focus on the right things. At one point in time, he was no longer enjoying Jehovah’s service. Jehovah told him:

“You are seeking great things for yourself. Stop seeking such things. For I am about to bring a calamity on all flesh, . . . and wherever you may go, I will grant you your life as a spoil.” (Jer. 45:3, 5)

Bear in mind that Saul did well and enjoyed God’s favour for a while, but he failed to root out selfish tendencies that began to take hold. Jehovah ultimately rejected Saul for his disobedience. (w14 3/15 1:9, 10) We too, when we soften our interest in God, give preference to worldly matters and become obedient to God, shall see that the small gate might be shut for us.

As we have seen last Thursday King David described the information needed to build a human body as being written in a figurative book. Speaking of Jehovah God, he said:

“Your eyes saw even the embryo of me, and in your book all its parts were down in writing, as regards the days when they were formed and there was not yet one among them.” (Ps. 139:16)

Which impression do you want to give to God? How do you want to present yourself in front of the heavenly Father, the Only One True God? do you think He shall love you more because you have gathered more material things in your life?

The son of God showed us a very good example of a life worth living in front of the eyes of God. Jeshua (Jesus) did not want to do his own will, but always tried to apply God’s commandments and to do God His Will. He did not look for treasures on earth and did not talk about the worldly wealth to be gathered on earth, but about the spiritual richness people had to strife for.

What sort of building do you want to construct? Do you want to be one of the many stones in the building or body of Christ?

Jesus enjoyed seeing meek people respond to the good news. (Luke 10:21; John 4:34)
Perhaps you have already experienced the happiness that results from helping others. If you base your major choices in life on the principles Jesus taught, you will surely bring happiness to yourself as well as to Jehovah.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice,+  So that I can make a reply to him who taunts me.+(Prov. 27:11)

Our greatest and most true happiness, comes from love and perfection which can receive the best foundation-stones from serving Jehovah, with all your heart.  (Prov. 16:20)

What do you think? What would have made Baruch happy — seeking great things or surviving Jerusalem’s destruction as a faithful servant of God? — Jas. 1:12. (w14 1/15 3:10, 11)

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Preceding articles:

A look at materialism

As Christ’s slaves doing the Will of God in gratitude

Philippians 4:4–7 – Do Not Be Anxious

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Additional reading:

1. Are you being swept along by the world
2. Gone astray, away from God
3. May reading the Bible provoke us into action to set our feet on the narrow way
4. People Seeking for God 3 Laws and directions
5. Like grasshoppers
6. Message to teenagers
7. As the Lord commanded Moses
8. Happiness mapping and getting over gender mapping
9. Lonely in the crowd
10. Leaving the Old World to find better pastures
11. Luck
12. Not holding back and getting out of darkness
13. Your position about materialistic desires having conquered the world
14. The Art of Doing Less – Your Time is Finite
15. Why “Selfishness” Doesn’t Properly Mean Being Shortsighted and Harmful to Others
16. Material wealth, Submission and Heaven on earth
17. Looking at a conservative review of Shop Class As Soul Craft
18. For The Love of Stuff
19. Learning that stuff is just stuff
20. Watch out
21. Food as a Therapeutic Aid
22. Being Religious and Spiritual 1 Immateriality and Spiritual experience
23. How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace
24. To be prepared and very well oiled
25. Thirst for happiness and meaning
26. True happiness, love and perfection
27. Spreading good cheer contagious
28. Happy is the person who knows what to remember of the past
29. Joy: Foundation for a Positive Life
30. God plays hide-n-seek?
31. Commit your self to the trustworthy creator
32. To Soar In The Spirit You Have To Be Hard Core
33. Myth 12: The Hyper-Grace Gospel Makes People Lazy
34. Let us become nothing, and Christ everything
35. With all your heart
36. God’s wrath and sanctification
37. You shall howl in your latter end

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Related articles

• Walk Humbly with God Daily
• Breath Of Life
• The Meaninglessness of Wealth
• “A Man’s Enemies Are The Men Of His Own House”
• Bible Daily Devotional – Job 28 The hidden treasure – Wisdom
• There is God, and there are gods (Richard P. Sheridan)
• 1 Samuel, chapters 26-31
• Preaching openly
• What is the fastest-growing Christian religion?
• Wait for the Lord