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

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:31

Matthew 25:31. When, &c. The same great truth, that there is no such thing as negative goodness, which was shown, 1st, in the parable of the virgins; 2d, in the still plainer parable of the servants who had received the talents; is here shown a third time, in a direct unparabolical declaration of the manner in which our Lord will proceed at the last day. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, &c. With what majesty and grandeur does Christ here speak of himself! giving us one... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:32-33

Matthew 25:32-33. Before him shall be gathered all nations That is, all the individuals of all nations and ages; not only all that are found alive at the time of his appearing, and are changed in a moment, and rendered immortal, that they may be capable of enjoying eternal happiness, or of suffering everlasting misery, but all that had ever lived from the beginning to the end of time. All of every clime, country, and place, great and small, even from the remotest corners of the world. And... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:34

Matthew 25:34. Then shall the King say, &c. In Mat 25:31 he had only called himself the Son of man, but he now changes the appellation, taking the title of king with great propriety, when he is speaking of himself as exercising the highest act of kingly power, in passing the final sentence on all men as his subjects, whereby their state shall be unalterably fixed for ever. And this title adds unutterable beauty to the condescending words he is represented as speaking on this great... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:35-36

Matthew 25:35-36. I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat, &c. All the works of outward mercy here mentioned suppose faith and love, and must needs be accompanied with works of spiritual mercy, such as instructing the ignorant, alarming the careless, encouraging the disconsolate, comforting the distressed, strengthening the weak, confirming the wavering, reclaiming the wicked, edifying the righteous. But works of this kind could not be mentioned by the Judge in the same manner: he could... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:37-40

Matthew 25:37-40. Then shall the righteous answer, &c. The righteous, with great surprise, ask, with reverence and humility, when all this happened, since they never had seen him in want of their assistance, nor could remember that they had ever bestowed aught upon him. It cannot be supposed, however, that either the righteous or the wicked should answer in the very words here mentioned. But what we learn here from is, That neither of them have the same estimation of their own works... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:41-43

Matthew 25:41-43. Then shall he say to them on the left hand In this account of our Lord’s proceedings at this awful time, the absolution of the righteous is represented as taking place before the condemnation of the wicked, to show that God takes greater delight in rewarding than in punishing. Depart from me In this world they were often called to come to Christ, to come for life and rest; but they turned a deaf ear to his calls; justly, therefore, are they bid to depart from him, who... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:44-46

Matthew 25:44-46. Then shall they answer, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, &c. So their endeavour to justify themselves will remain with the wicked even to that day! Perhaps, however, it may not be intended here to signify that the wicked shall make this answer in words: it is probably, rather, to be considered as the language of their hearts, which Christ perceiving, shall reply to as in the next verse. Multitudes will, no doubt, remember that they had often heard what reply will... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 25:31-46

135. Sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46)Jesus’ third example opens with a description of his return in power and glory to judge the world. His judgment reveals that, no matter what nation a person may come from, there are only two types of people in the world, compared in the story to sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-33).The ‘sheep’ are God’s people, who give proof of this by the practical love they show to others, often at the expense of their own convenience and comfort. Because they are... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 25:31

When the Son of man. See the Structure (p. 1366). shall come = shall have come. the throne. Luke 1:32 . Compare Psalms 47:8 . Jeremiah 3:17 ; Jeremiah 14:21 .Zephaniah 3:8 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 25:32

shall be gathered all nations. There is no resurrection here. Therefore no reference to Revelation 20:0 . The gathering is to be on earth (Isaiah 34:1 , Isaiah 34:2 .Joel 3:1 , Joel 3:2 , Joel 3:11 , Joel 3:12 ). There are three classes, not two. The test is not even "works", but the treatment of the "brethren" by the other two. No believer, i.e. those who "received the word" (Acts 2:41 . 1 Thessalonians 2:13 ): for these were (and will yet he)"taken out of all nations", Acts 15:14 , Israel... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:31

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:32-33

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:34

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:35-36

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:37-40

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:41-43

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 25:44-46

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 25:31-46

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 25:31

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 25:32

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