Matthew 25 - How Will We Be Judged When Jesus Returns?

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What's Happening in Matthew 25

In Matthew 24 Jesus gave a specific description of the types of events that would happen before His return. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells three parables of about what the kingdom will like be, as it relates to the end times. In each one there is an element of judgment for those who are not ready. 

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

This is a parable of about being prepared. In this case ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. You might wonder why are their ten virgins was he going to marry all of them? 

“When the bridegroom came, the bride-maids, who were attending the bride, went forth to meet the bridegroom, with lamps lighted, to conduct him and his companions into the house, and to her who was to be the bride.” (Poole)

Five of them made the mistake of not bringing oil for their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed in coming, they all got dreary and fell asleep. When the announcement came that the bridegroom was finally on his way, the ten virgins woke up. The five who had no oil realized they had to go out and get some more. Meanwhile the groom showed up and the ones that were out buying the oil were late. The door to the wedding was closed shut. 

The women cried out to the groom, "Lord, Lord open the door for us?" And the groom replied, "I don't know you!" 

So what should we make of this parable? The most obvious application was that the five virgins were not prepared for the bride to come. They made an assumption that ended up being very costly for them. They thought that even if they arrived late, the groom would let them in. They assumed wrong. 

If the groom is Jesus, then the virgins would most likely be the people of Israel. Though they should have been prepared to recognize the Messiah they weren'tt. It is interesting that the split was 50/50. In other parables we are going to see that one person is taken to heaven and one left behind. I don't know if we should take those numbers literally and conclude only half the world is going to be saved, but it does represent a sizeable number nonetheless. The next two parables will have a similar theme. 

Many think the oil represents the Holy Spirit, as oil is often a metaphor of the Holy Spirit. 

“It is a warning addressed specifically to those inside the professing church who are not to assume that their future is unconditionally assured; all ten are expecting to be at the feast, and until the moment comes there is no apparent difference between them – it is the crisis which will divide the ready from the unready.” (France)

The foolish virgins were unprepared because they lacked oil for their lamps. In many Biblical passages oil, is an emblem of the Holy Spirit (such as Zechariah 4:1-7). Without oil the wedding party was not ready for the bridegroom. Without the Holy Spirit, no one is ready for the return of Jesus.(Guzik)

The point of this parable is simple – be ready. The price for failing to be ready is too high. (Guzik)

The Parable of the Bags of Gold

This parable is about a master who entrusted a large amount of money to three of his servant. To one, he gave five bags of gold. To another two bags of gold. And to the final one, one bag of gold. A bag of gold, also called a "talent", represented 20 years of wages. So you can see this is a huge amount of money. The reason they were given differing amounts was based on each servant's abilities. 

The most talented servant, who was given 5 bags, was industrious and doubled the master's money by obtaining five more bags of gold. The one who was given two did the same. But, the one with only one bag dug a hole in the ground and put the money in fear of losing the money. He reasoned the master was a harsh man, so he did not want to make that mistake.  

When the master came back after a long time being away, he called in each servant in to give an account of what they did with what they had been given. For the servants who doubled the master's money, the master said these words of commendation, 

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!"  

Note the master gave them the highest commendation that we could all hope for, "Well done good and faithful servant!" I hope one day to hear those words. The master then rewarded them by giving them more to invest for him. He says they were faithful with a little (which was actually quite a large amount), so he would give them much more. They had earned their master's trust and respect so much he trusted them with much more than he originally gave them. 

They given the gold based on their abilities, but they were judged based on what they did with it. They were not accountable for the other's abilities but only their own.  

Then we get to the last servant, who the master had given one bag of gold according to his ability. When he came to the master, he had done nothing with the money. His excuse was that he was fearful of losing the master's money, so he hid it in the ground. The master was not happy in the least and called him a "wicked and lazy" servant. He didn't buy his excuse at all and said he could at the very least have put it in an interest bearing savings account. It wasn't because of his ability that the master rebuked him, but for his laziness which he made excuses for. 

The bible teaches us that all of us have been given spiritual gifts to put to work, which the Spirit of Jesus has given us. Some people have more gifts than others, but everyone has at LEAST ONE GIFT. I am not responsible for your gifts, and you are not responsible for mine. But you and I have the same purpose and mission in life to use the gifts God has given us to build up God's kingdom through the local church. 

"The servants were given different amounts of money according to their ability. One servant only received one talent, yet we should see that this was not an insignificant amount. Some received more; but everyone received something and everyone received a large amount." (Guik)

“Remember, my hearer, that in the day of judgment thy account must be personal; God will not ask you what your church did – he will ask you what you did yourself.” (Spurgeon)

 Some think that readiness for Jesus’ return is a very spiritual and abstract thing. It really isn’t – it is a matter of being about our business for the Lord. In light of this parable, we must ask ourselves: What have we done with our knowledge? Our time? Our money? Our abilities? The sins of omission [what we don’t do] may ultimately be more dangerous than the sins of commission [what we do].

The Sheep and the Goats

All of these parables in Matthew 25 have an element of judgment and being prepared for Jesus' return. In this parable Jesus is on his throne in heaven with his angels. He appears in glory. All the nations, or all people groups, are brought before him for the great day of judgment. His sheep are set on his right and the goats on his life in keeping with the "shepherd" motif. 

Most people don't think this is the "white throne of judgment" referred to in Revelation 20, because that judgment seems to come at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ. Also, in this story all "nations" are brought before him, which is always the word used for Gentiles. In Revelation 20, the judgment includes all people who are not saved by Jesus. 

The judgment here seems to be based on acts of kindness to people needing things like: food, clothing, water, and a place to sleep. Some were in prison. Jesus tells the righteous ones on his right it was him who they did these acts of kindness for. The men are confused. They didn't seem to recall Jesus being there. Then Jesus says, "Whatever you did for the least of these you did unto me!" 

To the those on his left he had nothing but judgment. He told them in no uncertain terms, 

Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  

Likewise these men cried out, "When did we see you?" Jesus said whenever they failed to help the least of these they failed to recognize him. They would suffer in eternal punishment while those who were righteous would go to eternal life. 

Is Jesus saying we are judged according to our works? 

I believe the answer is yes and no. Yes will be accountable with what we did with what we have been given, as it relates to showing Christ's love to other. If we have been given a lot we will be accountable for how we used those resources including caring for the poor, sick, and those in prison. But, we cannot go as far as to say we are saved by works. That goes against the teaching of the rest of the bible.

How then can we interpret this passage since it seems cut and dried that Jesus is referring to eternal judgment? This is a tough one. 

Here are some opinions by different commentators..

This is true of the final judgment, when humanity will be divided into two groups and only two. Yet in the opinion of this commentator (definitely a minority opinion), Jesus spoke here not of the final judgment, but of the separation that will happen after the glorious return but before the final judgment to deal with those who have survived the Great Tribulation. (Guzik)

This mention of eternal life makes most believe that Jesus spoke about the final judgment. But for those who survive the Great Tribulation, certainly entrance into the millennial kingdom is the gateway to eternal life. Those who do not enter the millennial kingdom will also certainly have everlasting punishment. (Guzik)

The purpose of this Judgment of the Nations is to separate peoples before the beginning of Jesus’ millennial kingdom. The wicked and cruel will not enter; the moral and good will enter. (Guzik)

While I can see the commentator's logic, it does for me present one of the more problematic passages in the bible, especially Jesus was talking so much to the Jewish people in this gospel. 

How do you think you have done with the talents you have been given by God? Does that fact there will be a judgment day affect how you look at your unsaved friends and neighbors.