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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 25:34 - 25:40
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_25:34-40
34"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'37Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick in prison, and come to You?'40The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'"
Mat_25:34 "the King" Jesus was often spoken of as the Coming King (cf. Rev_17:14; Rev_19:16). YHWH was also spoken of as the King, which brings additional significance to this term when it was used for Jesus (cf. Deu_10:17; 1Ti_6:15). This transference of title was a common technique of NT authors to assert the full deity of Jesus of Nazareth.
▣ "you who are blessed of My Father" This is a perfect passive participle. They have been blessed in the past and continue to be blessed. God is the active agent.
▣ "inherit" This is an aorist active imperative. The judgment of believers (cf. 2Co_5:10) will not be based upon our sins (cf. Tit_2:14; 1Jn_1:7), but upon our use of spiritual gifts and our availability to God (cf. 1Co_3:10-15). See Special Topic: Believers'Inheritance at Mat_19:29.
▣ "the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" This is a Perfect passive participle. The NT used this phrase several times to describe things that God did for believers even before creation (cf. Joh_17:24; Eph_1:4; Eph_1:11; 1Pe_1:19-20; Rev_13:8). The Trinity was active in redemption before Gen_1:1! God's work never fails!
Mat_25:35-39 Our good deeds and lifestyle love reveal and confirm our initial faith commitment to Jesus Christ (cf. Eph_2:8-10; 2Ti_2:21; 2Ti_3:17; Tit_3:1; Heb_13:21). Faith without works is dead (cf. Jas_2:14-26). These good works to others are related to the good works of Jesus Himself (cf. Isa_58:6-7). Believers continue His ministry (cf. Tit_2:14).
Mat_25:40 "to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them" The term "brother" here must refer to a neighbor. It is believers caring for humans made in God's image that is emphasized. The close relationship between Jesus and His followers can be seen in Act_9:4; Act_22:7; Act_26:14, and 1Co_8:12. To hurt one is to hurt both; to bless one is to bless both. Jesus wants believers to live in such a way that His task on earth continues (i.e., help fallen humans find fellowship with their Creator, cf. Mat_20:28; Mar_10:45; 1Jn_3:16).