matthew-25:31-46,-ezekiel-34:20-24

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:31

When the Son of man ... - This is in answer to the question which the disciples proposed to Jesus respecting the end of the world, Matthew 24:3. That this refers to the last judgment, and not, as some have supposed, to the destruction of Jerusalem, appears:From the fact that it was in answer to an express inquiry respecting “the end” of the world. “All nations” were to be assembled, which did not take place at the destruction of Jerusalem. A separation was to take place between the righteous... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:32

And before him ... - At his coming to judgment the world will be burned up, 2 Peter 3:10, 2 Peter 3:12; Revelation 20:11. The dead in Christ that is, all true Christians - will be raised up from their graves, 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The living will be changed - i. e., will be made like the glorified bodies of those that are raised from the dead, 1 Corinthians 15:52-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:17. All the wicked will rise and come forth to judgment, John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 13:41-42;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:33

Shall set the sheep ... - By “the sheep” are denoted, here, the righteous. The name is given to them because the sheep is an emblem of innocence and harmlessness. See John 10:7, John 10:14-16, John 10:27; Psalms 100:3; Psalms 74:1; Psalms 23:1-6.On the right hand - The right hand is the place of honor, and denotes the situation of those who are honored, or those who are virtuous. See Ecclesiastes 10:2; Ephesians 1:20; Psalms 110:1; Acts 2:25, Acts 2:33.The goats - The wicked. See Ezekiel... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:34

The King - That is, the Lord Jesus, the King of Zion and of the universe, now acting as Judge, Luke 19:38; John 18:37; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16.Blessed of my Father - Made happy or raised to felicity by my Father. See the notes at Matthew 5:3.Inherit the kingdom - Receive “as heirs” the kingdom, or be received there as the sons of God. Christians are often called heirs of God, Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:6-7; Heb 1:14; 1 John 3:2.Prepared for you ... - That is, “designed” for you, or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:35-36

I was an hungered - The union between Christ and his people is the most tender and endearing of all connections. It is represented by the closest unions of which we have knowledge, John 15:4-6; Ephesians 5:23-32; 1 Corinthians 6:15. This is a union - not physical, but moral; a union of feelings, interests, plans, destiny; or, in other words, he and his people have similar feelings, love the same objects, share the same trials, and inherit the same blessedness, John 14:19; Revelation 3:5,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:37-39

Then shall the righteous ... - This answer is indicative of humility - a deep sense of their being unworthy such commendation. They will feel that their poor acts of kindness have come so far short of what they should have been that they have no claim to praise or reward. It is not, however, to be supposed that in the day of judgment this will be actually “said” by the righteous, but that this would be a proper expression of their feelings. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:40

One of the least of these - One of the obscurest, the least known, the poorest, the most despised and afflicted.My brethren - Either those who are Christians, whom he condescends to call brethren, or those who are afflicted, poor, and persecuted, who are his brethren and companions in suffering, and who suffer as he did on earth. See Hebrews 2:11; Matthew 12:50. How great is the condescension and kindness of the Judge of the world, thus to reward our actions, and to consider what we have done... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:41

On the left hand - The wicked.Ye cursed - That is, you who are devoted to destruction, whose characters deserve everlasting punishment, and who are about to enter into it. “To curse” is the opposite of “to bless.” It implies a negation of all the blessings of heaven, and a positive infliction of eternal sufferings.Everlasting fire - “Fire,” here, is used to denote punishment. The image is employed to express extreme suffering, as a death by burning is one of the most horrible that can be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:45

Inasmuch as ye did it not ... - By not doing good to the “followers” of Christ, they showed that they had no real love to Him. By not doing good to the poor and needy, to the stranger and the prisoner, they showed that they had not his spirit, and were not like him, and were unfit for his kingdom. Let it be observed here that the public ground of their condemnation is the neglect of duty, or because “they did it not.” We are not to suppose that they will not also be condemned for their open and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:46

And these shall go away - These “persons.” Many, holding the doctrine of universal salvation have contended that God would punish sin only. Christ says that “those on his left hand,” shall go away - not “sins,” but “sinners.” Besides, sin, as an abstract thing, cannot be punished. Sin is nothing but an “act” - the act of a transgressor, and, to be reached at all, it must be reached by punishing the offender himself.Into everlasting punishment - The original word translated here as “punishment”... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:31

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:32

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:33

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:34

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:35-36

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:37-39

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:40

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:41

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:45

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 25:46

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