Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 Explained – Sheep and Goats Judgment reveals one of Jesus’ most serious teachings on the final judgment. In Matthew 25 Verses 31-46, Christ gathers all nations before Him and separates people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The difference between the two groups is simple but powerful. The sheep minister to others, while the goats do not. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 shows that true faith produces action. Those who belong to Christ care for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned. This passage teaches that ministering to people is not optional for believers.
GOSPEL OF MATTHEW BIBLE STUDY SERIES
This study of Matthew: Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 is part of a verse-by-verse teaching series through the Gospel of Matthew.
Previous: Matthew 25 Verses 14-30
Next: Matthew 26:1-13 Sovereignty Of God Jesus Anointed For Death
Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 Explained – Sheep and Goats Judgment
Audio
Scriptures used in this lesson on Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
- Acts 19:1–2, Romans 10:9–10, Romans 6:3–4, Matthew 25:31, Hebrews 13:17, Hebrews 13:1–2, Matthew 25:32, Matthew 25:40, Luke 8:19–21, Matthew 12:50, Mark 3:35, Romans 8:29, Matthew 25:34-40, Matthew 25:41-46, 1 Corinthians 12:27, 1 John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:11–12,
Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 Explained – Sheep and Goats Judgment
Finishing chapter 25, the end of the Olivet Discourse that began when Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives and spoke with the disciples about the end-time questions (Matthew 24:3).
The Final Parable of the Olivet Discourse – Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
This section closes that discourse and focuses on the final parable. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 reveals the final scene of judgment and separation. Jesus gives SEVEN PARABLES to explain what will happen when He comes again and what He will be looking for. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 brings those parables to their final conclusion.
In this lesson, we look specifically at Matthew 25 verses 31-46. The lesson is the judgment of the nations. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 describes this moment when Christ gathers all nations before Him. Christ gathers all nations for judgment and separates them into sheep and goats. The difference between them is simple. The sheep are those who minister and act. The goats are those who do not. The emphasis is on whether we minister to the brethren and to one another. The point of the parable is clear – ministry is not optional. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 shows that true sheep demonstrate their faith through ministry.
It is not optional to be a spectator or simply sit and watch. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 emphasizes that watching means acting. The Lord emphasizes that action is required. We must grasp the opportunities to minister to one another. I do not believe the Spirit is restrained here, and I do not believe the leadership restrains the Spirit. We encourage people to move and minister. Yet many times it is difficult to get people to help one another.
Every Week Opportunity
People come here every week with needs. We all come with needs. Someone may have a word that could help another person, but fear or hesitation keeps them from sharing it. We must understand that we need the word each one gives to another. We do not come here because everything in life is perfect.
I believe every person present has at least one need that someone else can minister to. That is the direction of this lesson. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 directs our attention to how believers live and minister. The judgment of the nations continues the Olivet Discourse that began earlier (Matthew 24:3). Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 forms the final and climactic parable of that discourse. Jesus gave seven parables to help us understand His coming.
The Seven Parables That Explain His Coming
I will summarize them briefly.
The first is the parable of the fig tree (Matthew 24:32–35). The second compares His coming to the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37–39). The third is the thief in the night (Matthew 24:42–44). The fourth is the faithful servant (Matthew 24:45–51). The fifth is the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1–13). The sixth is the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30).
Before moving further in Matthew 25 Verses 31-46, I want to clarify something from the last lesson.
Clarifying Salvation and the Gifts of the Spirit
Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 becomes clearer when we understand the gifts God gives His people. Judy mentioned that if someone had not understood what I meant, it might have sounded like I was saying a person must speak in tongues to be saved. That is not what I believe or teach. I want that clearly understood.
I do not believe that a person must speak in tongues to be saved or baptized in the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at a Scripture so that if this question ever comes up, you will see the truth clearly.
Acts 19:1–2
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Acts 19 and Receiving the Holy Spirit
Paul came to Ephesus after passing through the upper regions while Apollos was at Corinth. There he found certain disciples and asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed (Acts 19:1–2). In Paul’s understanding, it was possible for someone to believe and yet not have received the Holy Ghost. This shows that belief and receiving the Holy Spirit are not the same experience. That is why I want to make something clear. I was not saying in the previous lesson that if a person has not been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, he or she is not saved. That is not what I meant.
What we were discussing last time was the parable of the talents and the abilities God gives. We talked about the power, the dunamis, the authority, and the gifts that the Holy Spirit places in our lives. The emphasis was that we must take those gifts and use them.
What Actually Brings Salvation
That brings another question. What actually determines whether a person is saved? Does praying a prayer save a person? No. What brings salvation? Let me show you from the Scriptures. Let us look at Romans chapter 10, verses 9 and 10 (Romans 10:9–10).
Romans 10:9–10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans chapter 10 shows that a person can pray many prayers and still not be saved. Someone can be immersed many times and call it baptism, yet never truly be baptized into Christ. A person can sign many membership cards and never become part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Salvation is not simply coming forward, kneeling, or crying out to God. Those things may happen, but they are not what “save” a person. Salvation comes through believing in Jesus Christ – believing He was real, that He is the Son of God, that He died, and that God raised Jesus from the dead.
Believe this to be Saved
When a person truly believes this, that person is saved. Real belief produces fruit (Matthew 7:16). Genuine faith changes how someone lives. Repentance follows because belief changes the mind and the direction of life. Romans chapter 10 explains that if someone confesses Jesus as Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, that person will be saved (Romans 10:9). The passage does not say a person must pray a prayer, shake a pastor’s hand, sign a membership card, or speak in tongues. Salvation comes from believing in the heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead.
This understanding frees us from thinking we must save people ourselves. We cannot save anyone (John 6:44). If a person truly believes, fruit will follow and their life will reveal it (Matthew 7:20). The Lord has already shown how to recognize that fruit (Matthew 7:16). I wanted to clarify this because it may have sounded earlier as if I was saying that someone who had not received the Holy Spirit and spoken in tongues was not saved. That was not my point. The point was that we must take the talents God gives and not bury them but use them to minister to one another (Matthew 25:25). The parable of the talents emphasizes this principle (Matthew 25:14–30).
Repentance, Baptism, and the Holy Spirit
Repentance is the first step in salvation. When we examine the book of Acts, including Acts chapter 19, we see three initial responses in the life of a New Testament believer (Acts 19:1–6). The first is repentance (Acts 2:38). Repentance means believing in Jesus Christ and turning in a new direction. When someone believes, the mind changes, and the life begins to change. Prayer naturally follows salvation. A believer will pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17), yet prayer itself is not what produces salvation.
The second step seen in the early church is water baptism by immersion (Acts 2:38). The third is Spirit baptism or receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). Scripture consistently presents these as distinct experiences. We saw earlier how baptism relates to the release from the power of sin, but I do not have time to explain that fully here. For that understanding, look at Romans chapter 6.
Romans 6:3–4
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans chapter 6 shows that when a person dies with Christ and is raised with Him in baptism, sin no longer has authority over that life (Romans 6). Baptism becomes the outward expression of what has already taken place in the heart. I only wanted to touch on that briefly before moving on.
The Judgment of the Nations – Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
The seventh parable in this Olivet Discourse is the judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31–46). Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 shows how Christ separates sheep from goats. Jesus told seven parables in this discourse. Every one of them emphasizes watching, and watching means doing. Each example focuses on preparedness that is expressed through action.
This idea is simplified in the parable of the judgment of the nations. Those who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, house the homeless, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and visit those in prison are counted among the sheep (Matthew 25:35–36). Those who do not do these things are counted among the goats (Matthew 25:32–33). The lesson appears simple. Sheep perform the common acts of Christ. Goats do not.
Ministering to Others Reveals True Faith
The emphasis is on ministering to people. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 reveals that ministering to others is ministering to Christ Himself. Christians naturally help others. They feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for those in need. That is how a believer lives. I believe it is very important that, when opportunities arise, we lay hands on people and minister to one another (Mark 16:18). Every gathering brings people with needs. I have needs. You have needs. Others who come through the doors also have needs. No one comes because everything in life is perfect.
Each person present carries at least one need that can be ministered to. Sheep respond to those needs. This is the emphasis of the parable.
Watching Means Acting
Watching does not mean standing with binoculars waiting for the Lord to return. It means acting. The servant is blessed when the Lord finds him doing what he or she is called to do when He comes (Matthew 24:46).
The Throne Scene of Final Judgment – Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
The Meaning of the Word Angel (Aggelos)
The passage then moves to the scene in which the Son of Man comes in His glory with the holy angels and sits upon the throne of His glory (Matthew 25:31–33). Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 shows the throne scene where all nations stand before Him.
All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The sheep will be placed on His right hand and the goats on the left (Matthew 25:31–33). This is not a division of nations themselves. All nations are gathered together first. From that great gathering, the sheep are separated to one side and the goats to the other.
The distinction is not national but personal. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 shows that individuals are separated as sheep or goats. These are people. Some are like goats, stubborn and destructive. Others are like sheep, belonging to God. The picture resembles earlier teachings about the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24–30) and the good fish and the bad fish (Matthew 13:47–49). The difference here is that this passage shows the day when that final separation actually takes place (Matthew 25:31–33).
Matthew 25:31
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Holy Angels
First, the passage says that He comes with His holy angels (Matthew 25:31). The word angel comes from the Greek word aggelos, which means messenger and can also imply a pastor. The picture shows the Lord on His throne with His messengers present. These include prophets, pastors, and those who carry God’s message.
I do believe in literal angels. At the same time, a messenger of God can also be called an angel. Anyone who carries the message of God becomes a messenger. In that sense, those who preach or deliver God’s message function as messengers. The term aggelos is used for John the Baptist, who was called a messenger of God (Matthew 11:10).
The disciples were also sent with a message from God. In their case, the word is translated as “messenger” rather than “angel,” but it is the same Greek word (Luke 9:52). This raises the question of whether the angels mentioned here refer only to heavenly beings or also include the holy messengers God has sent throughout history.
The picture suggests Christ on the throne surrounded by the messengers of God. That would include figures such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, James, and John. These were consecrated messengers of God who carried His word. I still affirm that literal angels exist (Hebrews 1:14). Yet the term also reveals the role of those who serve as God’s messengers. This leads into the next passage, which speaks about those who give an account for the people of God (Hebrews 13:17).
Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Messengers Who Give Account for Souls
Hebrews 13:17 shows that the messengers God sends must give account for the people they shepherd (Hebrews 13:17). The passage instructs believers to obey those who shepherd them and submit to them because those leaders watch for their souls and must give account. Their work should be done with joy, not with grief, because grief in that responsibility becomes unprofitable to the people.
This shows that those whom God sends as shepherds or messengers will stand before the throne and give an account for the people under their care. The responsibility does not come from human appointment but from those whom God has placed in that role. These shepherds will answer for the souls entrusted to them.
I also have shepherds in my own life who will give an account for me. That helps explain this idea of aggelos, the messenger or angel, and how those messengers give an account for the people of God. Now let us continue by looking further in Hebrews chapter 13, beginning with verse 1 (Hebrews 13:1–2).
Hebrews 13:1–2
1 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Continue in Brotherly Love
Brotherly love should continue, and believers should not forget to show hospitality to strangers because some have entertained aggelos unaware (Hebrews 13:1–2). A messenger of God may not appear with wings or a halo. The term aggelos means messenger. Those messengers are placed by God, and they will stand on the day of judgment and give an account for the souls they have watched over (Hebrews 13:17).
Someone will give an account for my soul. My pastor will stand before the Lord and speak concerning me. The testimony could be that I was a good and faithful servant who can be trusted (Matthew 25:21). This helps explain that aggelos refers to a messenger rather than simply a heavenly being. People may entertain such messengers without realizing it (Hebrews 13:2). The Lord sends messengers, pastors, and even strangers. These are the messengers God places among us.
Matthew 25:32
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
All Nations Gathered Before Christ – Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
Many people desire an angelic visitation. Yet the passage says that all nations will be gathered before Him (Matthew 25:32).
Is This Judgment About Israel or All People?
This parable has often been used as a pro-Semitic teaching by those who believe God will give special favor to natural Israel above the church. I want to be clear. I am not anti-Semitic, and I am not against Jews or Israel. At the same time, I am not teaching that they receive a special path to salvation. Everyone must come the same way.
God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). The way I entered was through the blood, through the door, through the life of Jesus Christ. The same way applies to everyone else (John 10:9). There are no favorites with God.
I then quote from The Life of Christ by Ralph M. Riggs. In that writing, he explains that Jesus moved from parable into direct prophecy. He describes a judgment of all nations when Christ comes (Matthew 25:31–32). The Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory and gathers all nations before Him. He separates them as a shepherd separates sheep from goats (Matthew 25:32–33). According to that interpretation, the separation is based on how the nations treated “these my brethren” (Matthew 25:40).
Matthew 25:40
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
These my Brethren
Ralph Riggs explains that the phrase “these my brethren” refers to the Jews. He connects it with the prophecy in Zechariah that those who pierced Christ would later look upon Him with mourning (Zechariah 12:10–14). According to that view, the Jewish nation will not receive Jesus as Messiah until He returns. When He comes again, they will then reconcile with Him and receive Him. This interpretation concludes that the “brethren” in the judgment of the nations refers to the Jewish people (Matthew 25:31–46).
From that conclusion comes a pro-Semitic interpretation of the parable. Nations that treated the Jews kindly would remain on the earth and enjoy the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). Nations that refused to minister to the Jews would be judged, and their leaders sent into everlasting fire (Matthew 25:41).
That is the interpretation given by Ralph Riggs. I want to examine it by first looking at the word “all.” The Greek word translated “all” means any, every, or the whole. When the passage says all nations, it literally means all nations without exception (Matthew 25:32). The language does not say all nations except Israel, all nations except the Jews, or all nations except the house of God. The meaning includes every nation and the entire world.
Cannot wait
Because of that, natural Israel cannot wait until the Lord returns to reconcile with Christ. Anyone who waits until the Lord’s return has waited too long. The time to respond is now (2 Corinthians 6:2). If people could wait until Christ returns to believe, then God would show partiality. The same opportunity must be given to everyone. If Christ returned first and then belief followed, everyone would believe because they would see Him.
Salvation comes by faith. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8). When the Scripture speaks of the Lord’s coming, it is connected with the resurrection. There is no place where His coming appears without the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:52). That event happens on the last day (John 6:40). When that day comes, there are no further opportunities to reconcile with Christ. If natural Israel waits until the advent and the resurrection to receive Him, they will have waited too long.
The passage about the judgment of the nations does not say all Gentile nations or all nations except Israel. It simply says all nations, meaning any, every, and the whole (Matthew 25:32). Ralph Riggs builds his interpretation on the phrase “my brethren,” claiming it refers to the Jews (Matthew 25:40).
The Separation of Sheep and Goats – Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
Who Are the Brethren of Christ?
That is a weak foundation for doctrine. Scripture shows that Christ’s brethren are those who do the will of the Father. This can be seen clearly in Luke 8:21.
Luke 8:19–21
19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
His natural mother and His natural brothers came to see Him, but they could not reach Him because of the crowd (Luke 8:19–20). Someone told Him that His mother and brothers were standing outside and wanted to see Him. Jesus answered by explaining that His true mother and brethren are those who hear the Word of God and do it (Luke 8:21).
Natural Descent is not the Factor
This shows that His brethren are not defined by natural descent but by obedience. They are the ones who hear the Word of God and act on it. These are the disciples who learn to think like Him and whose minds are being renewed. The same truth appears when Jesus says that whoever does the will of the Father is His brother, sister, and mother (Matthew 12:50).
Matthew 12:50
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Mark 3:35
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Jesus clearly shows that His brethren are not defined by natural blood or nationality but by those who hear and obey the Word of God (Luke 8:21). The issue is not natural descent but obedience to the will of the Father.
Predestined Believers
Scripture also teaches that God predestined believers to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Christ would be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).
Romans 8:29
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Christ is the firstborn among many brethren whom the Father foreknew, predestined, and conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). That does not mean He was simply the first Jew born. It means He is the first Son of God among many brethren. His brethren are those who belong to Him. They are those who do the will of the Father (Matthew 12:50).
Because of that, the phrase “my brethren” does not refer to natural Israel but to those who obey the Word and will of God (Luke 8:21). The parable is not a pro-Semitic teaching. It concerns all nations and all people. Anyone who waits until that day to reconcile with Christ has waited too long. Everyone must come the same way through Him (John 14:6). Scripture shows that even Israel can be grafted back in if they believe (Romans 11:23).
Sheep and Goats Separated
The passage then says that He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats (Matthew 25:32–33). The word separate suggests setting a boundary or dividing. The picture is of sheep and goats grazing together. This resembles the wheat and tares growing together (Matthew 13:24–30) and the good and bad fish swimming together (Matthew 13:47–49).
Some goats may think they are sheep, yet they are not. Goats are stubborn and destructive. Sheep belong to the shepherd. The difference becomes visible through their actions. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 demonstrates that fruit reveals the nature of each person. Their lives reveal what they truly are. A person is known by the fruit that life produces (Matthew 7:16).
Two Groups Throughout the Parables
In this teaching, we see two kinds of people, represented by sheep and goats. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 makes this distinction unmistakably clear. That pattern appears throughout the parables in this discourse. In the parable of the fig tree, there are those who discern the changing seasons and those who do not (Matthew 24:32–35). In the days of Noah, there were two groups, one taken in judgment and one left (Matthew 24:37–39). Also, in the warning about the thief in the night, there are those who watch and those who are unaware (Matthew 24:42–44).
The faithful servant does what the Lord commands while the unfaithful servant does not (Matthew 24:45–51). The parable of the talents shows servants who use what was given and one who does not (Matthew 25:14–30). The wise and foolish virgins also show two groups, those prepared and those unprepared (Matthew 25:1–13).
Every example presents the same reality. There are always two groups. There is no middle ground. A person is either for Christ or against Him (Matthew 12:30). Someone stands either on the right hand or the left (Matthew 25:33). One is prepared or unprepared. Some understand the times while others are surprised like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2–4). Some carry oil in their lamps while others only appear ready (Matthew 25:1–13).
The central question becomes personal. Which one am I? Which one are you? Scripture says we can examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Our lives reveal what is within us. What we do and what we produce show the truth. The Lord also gives discernment, wisdom, and understanding to recognize these things (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Only two Groups
In the end, there are only two groups. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 reveals the final separation between them. The wheat and the tares grow together until they are separated (Matthew 13:24–30). The good fish and the bad fish are gathered together until the time of division (Matthew 13:47–49). The judgment described here is that final day of separation (Matthew 25:31–33).
The word “sheep” conveys the idea of something moving forward. A sheep walks forward under the shepherd’s watch. The goat, by contrast, represents a different nature and is often associated with wickedness (Ezekiel 34:17). The word picture also connects to the idea of hairiness, similar to Esau, who was described as a hairy man, while Jacob was smooth (Genesis 25:25–27). The sheep moves forward in obedience, while the goat reflects a rough and stubborn nature.
We need to ask ourselves where we are going in our walk with Christ. Are we moving forward or going backward? Are we pushing and resisting like goats or walking forward like sheep? Each person must examine the emphasis of his life. Is the nature of our life moving forward in obedience or becoming worldly and fleshly like Esau, who sold his birthright (Hebrews 12:16)? A sheep moves forward and receives what God provides. A goat pushes and resists.
The same question applies to our fellowship. Are we moving forward as a people, or are we pushing against one another? We must be sheep. If we are not progressing in Christ, then we are not acting like sheep. There will come a day when the separation will take place, and everything will be set in order.
The Sheep Who Inherit the Kingdom – Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
To see this clearly, we read the passage itself. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 gives the full description of this judgment scene.
Matthew 25:34-40
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Ministering to the Least of These
Verses 34 through 40 describe the sheep. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 shows that sheep minister naturally to those in need. The King says to those on His right hand to come and inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. They fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and came to those in prison (Matthew 25:34–36). The righteous ask when they did these things for Him. The King answers that whatever they did for the least of His brethren, they did for Him (Matthew 25:37–40).
The Goats Who Refused to Minister
The passage then turns to the goats in verses 41 through 46. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 reveals the consequence of failing to minister.
Matthew 25:41-46
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Everlasting Fire Prepared for the Devil
Those on the left are told to depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. They did not feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, receive the stranger, clothe the naked, or visit the sick and imprisoned. They ask when they failed to minister to Him. Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you did not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous to life eternal (Matthew 25:41–46).
I do not believe Christianity fully understands how blessed it is. Many people think they simply choose Jesus whenever they want. Yet the truth is that He first chooses us (John 15:16). That realization should make us understand how blessed we truly are.
Too often, we take this lightly. We treat Jesus as if He were available on our terms. In reality, He is Lord and King, and we are blessed when He chooses us. Believers should live with joy and gratitude because we are chosen. Scripture calls us a chosen generation and a royal priesthood. We are the people of God who once were not a people (1 Peter 2:9–10). Yet many do not recognize how blessed they are.
Our lives should show that blessing. Instead, many gatherings lack the excitement that should come from knowing we belong to God. If we truly understood how blessed we are, celebration and gratitude would naturally follow. We would not need to be pushed to worship, pray, or minister. We would rejoice continually because we know we have been chosen.
Kingdom Prepared from the Foundation
The passage says, “Blessed are those who inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). That should remind us of how blessed we are before the Father. Yet we often treat this calling casually. The Lord has given us a message and a vision, but we sometimes respond with hesitation instead of gratitude.
The parable then turns to the needs of people. It speaks of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, and the sick. These are real needs that people face every day. God calls us to minister to those needs. When we minister to the least of His brethren, we minister to Him (Matthew 25:40).
We Minister to Christ Through His Body
The question then arises. How does this actually happen? The righteous in the parable ask when they ever saw Him hungry, thirsty, or in need. They do not even realize they were ministering to Him. To understand how this works, we turn to another passage in Scripture, beginning in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.
1 Corinthians 12:27
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
We Are the Body of Christ
The church needs a revelation. We must understand how we minister to Christ. The answer is found in the truth that we are the body of Christ and members in particular (1 Corinthians 12:27).
When we touch one another, we are touching Christ. The person may look like someone we know, but in reality, we are touching Jesus Christ. If we help that person or minister to that person, we are ministering to Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:40).
When we gather together, we should find someone to minister to. Many times, the Spirit asks us to go speak a word to someone or help someone, yet we remain seated. We must understand that when we go to another person, we are going to Christ. We are members of His body, and every one of us belongs to Him (1 Corinthians 12:27).
When we touch one another’s lives, we are touching Christ. Those who reach out and minister are acting like sheep. Those who sit as spectators are acting like goats. Scripture says that the apostles handled the Word of life, the Lord of glory (1 John 1:1).
1 John 1:1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
How We Touch the Lord of Glory
We can still touch the Lord of glory when we touch one another’s lives. When we minister to the least of His brethren, we are ministering to Him (Matthew 25:40). It is often easier to minister to those who appear successful than to those who are struggling. Yet the ones in prison, the strangers, the hungry, and the poor must also be touched. They are brethren and part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27).
If we are sheep, we must minister to them. It should not matter how they look or how they live. When we touch their lives, we are touching Christ. Many opportunities to minister to Christ are missed because people fail to recognize this truth.
The passage then speaks about the goats. The goats did not minister to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, or those in prison (Matthew 25:41–46). They ignored the simple acts of care that Christ expects from His people. Because they did not minister, they face judgment. Sheep minister while goats do not.
This must become a revelation to us. Believers are called to minister to one another with the talents and gifts God has given. Those gifts are entrusted to us, and we will give an account for how we used them (Matthew 25:14–30). The parable emphasizes the necessity of ministering to people and meeting their needs (Matthew 25:35–40). If we refuse to minister to those needs, judgment awaits (Matthew 25:41–46).
The Church Is the Body of Christ
This leads to another thought about division within Christianity. The word denomination itself implies division, yet God desires unity among His people (1 Corinthians 1:10). Christ prayed that His followers would be one (John 17:21). That prayer will be fulfilled. The body of Christ cannot remain divided, because the church is meant to be one people under Christ.
My desire is to build Christians and belong to the body of Christ. I want to be part of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and the people of God, not identified by denomination or non-denomination but simply as a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). A person may belong to a denomination and still not be born again, and therefore not belong to the church (John 3:3). It is also possible to belong to a denomination and truly be part of the church. Likewise, someone may attend a non-denominational fellowship and still not be a member of the church.
The church is not buildings, organizations, or sects. The church is the people of God who have been called out of darkness. They are the body of Christ, and the people of God (1 Peter 2:9). This church has no national or international boundaries. It is not denominational or sectarian. It is simply the people of God living under the headship of Jesus Christ as King and Lord (Colossians 1:18). That is what I want to be. I want to live under Him.
Needy People come to Church
The passage speaks about people who were hungry and thirsty and were not fed or given drink (Matthew 25:42–43). Many people come into churches every week hungry for spiritual truth. They are searching for something that will change their lives and give them strength. Yet often they receive only milk instead of the deeper things of God (Hebrews 5:12–14).
People come hungry for spiritual food and thirsty for the Spirit of God. They want truth and life from heaven, yet they are told those things are no longer available. They come as strangers looking for help, for covering, and for guidance in their lives. Many are struggling in their bodies, their souls, or their spirits. Some are in bondage and need freedom. Yet too often, no one ministers to them or helps them in their need.
The Church is to Minister
I want this truth to fall directly on us. Christ wants His church to minister to people because people come with real needs. Many arrive bound, hungry, and struggling. Their lives may appear fine on the outside, but that does not mean everything is right. When people come among us, they are looking for someone to touch their lives and minister to them. Yet too often we sit and spectate while waiting for someone else to do it.
The body of Christ is meant to minister to one another (1 Corinthians 12:25–27). People do not come to church because everything in their lives is perfect. They come because they have needs. Every person who gathers has at least one need in body, soul, or spirit. Those needs are meant to be met through the ministry of the body. We are not called to sit as spectators. If we sit and do nothing, we must ask whether we are acting like sheep or goats, because the sheep minister to others (Matthew 25:35–40).
Operation of Spiritual Gifts
Our fellowship encourages the operation of spiritual gifts and the ministry of believers to one another. Yet many still sit without ministering. People come and leave without anyone touching their lives. That raises an important question. If we are not functioning as part of the body, are we truly acting as members of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)?
The human body has many parts, and every part has a purpose. Bones, muscles, nerves, eyes, ears, hands, and feet all function together. Every part does something. Nothing simply sits and watches. In the same way, the body of Christ is meant to function. Each member has a role to fulfill. This leads us to the next passage in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, beginning with verse 7.
1 Corinthians 12:7
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every person for the benefit of all (1 Corinthians 12:7). That means everyone in the body of Christ has something from the Spirit. Every sheep has a manifestation within them.
Each believer has something God has placed in their life. Yet many take what God has given and hide it rather than use it (Matthew 25:25). This happens even among those who know better.
Every Believer is Given a Spiritual Gift
The point is simple. Every believer has been given something by the Spirit. The manifestation of the Spirit is present in every member of the body of Christ.
Now look at verse 11.
1 Corinthians 12:11–12
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
The body has many members, but it is still one body. In the same way, Christ has one body made up of many members (1 Corinthians 12:12). When we touched one another, we were touching Christ. Every believer has something to give when the body gathers together.
Each time we meet, the Spirit desires to manifest Himself through us. We should minister to someone and touch another person’s life. When the body comes together, it should function and minister to itself. That is how the body operates. Nothing in the body simply sits and watches.
The natural body has many parts, and every part functions. Some parts are visible, and others are hidden, yet each one has a purpose. No member simply spectates. In the same way, Christ has given gifts and talents so the members can minister to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Are We Acting Like Sheep or Goats? – Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
This leads to an important question. Are we ministering as we should? If we are sheep, then we must minister. Sheep serve the body and care for one another.
If Jesus stood here and told us that His sheep must minister to the body, we would say we believe Him. If Paul told us the same thing, we would say we believe him as well. Yet the question remains whether we truly believe what we proclaim. If we truly believe the message of Christianity, we will act on it.
Believers are not meant to be hearers only but doers of the Word (James 1:22). When the Lord comes, He will find His servants doing what He commanded (Matthew 24:46). The church must ask whether it is truly ministering to its community. We must minister as individuals and as a body. Often, it is easier to minister to those who appear successful than to those who are struggling. Yet ministry must reach both.
The question before us is what we will hear on that day. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 presents the two possible responses from the King. Will we hear the words to the sheep, come you blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34)? Or will we hear the words spoken to the goats, depart from me into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41)?
Ministering Is the Natural Life of a Sheep
The final point is clear. Christ’s sheep minister to people. Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 teaches that ministering to people is the natural life of a sheep. Some hesitate to minister because they fear doing it wrong or making a mistake. Yet it is better to risk embarrassment than to refuse to minister. If we truly believe that Jesus is Lord and that we belong to Him, these actions will appear in our lives. Ministering to people is the natural expression of a sheep.
We must minister to people. When we understand that we are the body of Christ, we realize that when we touch someone, we are touching Him. When we minister to another person, we are ministering to Christ (Matthew 25:40).
If we help someone find salvation, we are simply working for Him. When we feed someone with a word from God, we are serving Him. When we minister in the Spirit, we are ministering to Him. This understanding should stir us to reach out to people and become more active in ministry.
The prayer is that God will awaken His people to this truth. We ask Him to help us become a people who carry His name with purpose. Instead of sitting as spectators waiting for His coming, we should be ministering to the body of Christ. The desire is that this truth will take root in our hearts and change the way we live and minister.
Questions and Answers About Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
What is the main message of Matthew 25 Verses 31-46?
Matthew 25 Verses 31-46 teaches about the final judgment when Christ separates people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The sheep are those who minister to others, while the goats refuse to help those in need. The passage shows that genuine faith produces action and that believers naturally care for others.
What is the judgment of the nations in Matthew 25 Verses 31-46?
The judgment of the nations describes the moment when Christ gathers all people before Him and separates them into two groups. The sheep inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world, while the goats are sent away into everlasting punishment. The separation reveals the true nature of each person’s life.
Who are the sheep in Matthew 25?
The sheep represent those who belong to Christ. Their lives show compassion and ministry toward others. They feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and care for those in prison. These actions reveal a genuine relationship with Christ.
Who are the goats in Matthew 25?
The goats represent people who refuse to minister to others. They ignore the needs of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned. Their failure to care for others reveals that they do not truly belong to Christ.
Who are “the least of these my brethren”?
Scripture shows that Christ’s brethren are those who hear the Word of God and do it (Luke 8:21). They are not defined by nationality but by obedience to God. When believers minister to one another, they are ministering to Christ Himself (Matthew 25:40).
What does it mean that we minister to Christ?
Matthew 25:40 explains that when believers serve others, they are serving Christ. Because the church is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), ministering to another believer is the same as ministering to the Lord.
Does Matthew 25 teach that salvation comes from good works?
Matthew 25 does not teach that works save a person. Salvation comes through believing in Jesus Christ and confessing Him as Lord (Romans 10:9–10). However, genuine faith produces fruit, and that fruit appears through acts of compassion and ministry.
Why does Jesus compare people to sheep and goats?
Sheep and goats often graze together but have different natures. Sheep follow the shepherd and move forward in obedience, while goats are stubborn and resistant. Jesus uses this picture to show that people may appear similar outwardly, but their true nature is revealed by their actions.
What lesson should believers take from Matthew 25 Verses 31-46?
The passage teaches that believers are not called to be spectators. True followers of Christ minister to others and serve the body of Christ. Watching for the Lord’s return means living faithfully and caring for people in need.
How does the body of Christ minister to itself?
Every believer has a manifestation of the Spirit given for the benefit of others (1 Corinthians 12:7). When the church gathers, each member has something to contribute. Through prayer, encouragement, teaching, and spiritual gifts, believers minister to one another as members of Christ’s body.
Also see: