Matthew 25:31

This verse fixes the time of the judgment described in the following verses at the beginning of Jesus’ messianic reign (cf. Daniel 7:9-14; Daniel 7:22-27). Nowhere in this discourse did Jesus explicitly identify Himself as the Son of Man. However, since He used that title in answer to the disciples’ questions in Matthew 25:3, the inference is inescapable (cf. Zechariah 14:5; Joel 3:1-12). Jesus becomes the eschatological Judge that the Old Testament identified as God. Jesus again referred to His coming with heavenly glory (Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30; cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8). Jesus will sit on His earthly throne as Judge and King (cf. Matthew 28:18; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 12:2).