JUDGMENT OF NATIONS

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

Matthew 25:31-46
Lesson #63
JUDGMENT OF NATIONS

• Memory verse: Mat 12:50
• Read Mat 25:31-46 The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
  • Like all the other parables in Mat 25, this parable also refers to the second coming of Christ. It is a picture of judgment.
  • Mat 25:31 tells us the timing of the interpretation of this parable.
    • This judgment occurs at the second coming of Christ after the great tribulation and before Christ sets up his millennial kingdom on earth.
    • Who is being judged?
      • All nations
        • The Greek indicates ethnic groupings on the earth at the time of the second coming of Christ.
        • This is not an individual judgment.
        • This is not the judgment seat of Christ where believers are judged after the rapture. (Rom 14:10 2Cor 5:10 1Cor 3:10-15)
        • This is not the great white throne judgment where non-believers are judged after the millennium. (Rev 20:6-15)
      • This is a judgment of nations.
      • Read Joel 3:2,11-14
    • Who is the shepherd? Christ
    • The goats and the sheep
      • There are many points of similarity between sheep and goats of a Syrian flock.
      • It takes the practiced eye of the shepherd to distinguish between sheep and goats.
    • Who are the goats? Non-believing Gentile nations.
    • Who are the sheep? Believing gentile nations. (John 10:11)
    • Who are the “brethren” in verse 40?
      • Jews are Jesus’ physical brothers.
      • Christians are Jesus’ spiritual brothers. (Mat 12:49,50)
    • Who is the king? Jesus Christ, the Mesiah.
      • Jesus never said He was a king, but in parable form, He alludes to it.
      • When He was asked if He was king by Pilate in Mat 27:11, Jesus did not deny it nor did He say He was.
    • What are the criteria for this judgment?
      • How nations treated the Jews and Christians during the tribulation period of persecution.
        • Remember that the Jews flee the Antichrist at the middle of the tribulation.
        • Both Jews and Christians will be greatly persecuted during the tribulation. Many will be martyred and enslaved.
      • At the end of the tribulation is the battle of Armageddon which is the assembling of nations for this judgment,
      • Then nations and leaders will face the judgment of nations for their actions.
    • This judgment is a fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant
      • Read Gen 12:3
      • God promised blessing for those who helped the Jews and retribution for those who persecuted the Jews.
    • What kind of help should be given to Jews and Christians?
      • The simple kind of help, often overlooked, is the kind of help God will reward — to meet someone’s basic human needs for food, water, clothing, medicine, shelter, and friendship.
      • These are the things that Jews and Christians will have trouble getting in the tribulation when the Antichrist controls the world’s economic system.
    • What is meant by “inherit the kingdom” (34)?
      • Read Zec 14:1-4,9,12-19
      • Those nations and their leaders that treated the Jews and Christians with love will be nations in the millennium and have a favored nation status.
    • What is the result of the judgment for the goat nations?
      • Verse 41 indicates that unbelieving leaders are cast into hell. (41,46) These nations will be in darkness during the millennium, not having a favored nation status.
      • They will have to demonstrate their loyalty during the Millennium. (Zec 14:16-19)
  • What is the central truth of the parable?
    • Along national and ethnic lines, pay attention to how you and your government treats the Jews and Israel, and how Christians are treated. All will answer to the Lord. The battle of Armageddon will be the test and judgment will follow.
    • The basic principle for today’s Christian:
      • We need to be sensitive to the needs of others and help when they need it.
      • 1Joh 3:17-18

Homework

Matthew 26:1-16

• Application of Mat 25:31-46
  • How can you develop a greater sensitivity to the needs of other people?

• • What can you do this week to meet a specific need of another Christian? Write the person’s name here and the deed you will do.
• Preparation for Mat 26:1-16
  • Read Mat 26:1-13 and Mar 14:3-9 and Joh 12:1-8
    • The anointing of the king
    • What differences do you notice between these three accounts of the same story?
    • Matthew Mark John
    • Read Mat 26:14-16 and Joh 12:4-5 the betrayer of the King
    • What do you learn about Judas’ character from these verses?
• Memory verse: Ecclesiastes 7:12