Concering the Gentiles

Concerning the Gentiles, 25.31-46

THE PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS

This parable applies to the Gentile nations. According to the Scriptures the inhabited world is divided into three classes of people: the Jews, the church, and the nations. Both the Jews and the church have already been touched upon in chapters 24 and 25. Now in this remaining passage of chapter 25, Jesus’ prophecy as to what will happen to the nations at the end time has been recorded.

However, two erroneous interpretations of this parable have been set forward. One of these propounds a universal judgment in the future; and the other has this parable signifying the judgment of the Christian. Let us examine each of them closely, making a number of observations about each interpretation.

(1) Universal judgment

(a) If the meaning of this parable has reference to a future universal judgment, such judgment must obviously include the Jews, the church, and the nations, both the living and the dead. In the first place, holding a view of there being one grand universal judgment is a serious misconception among some in the church today. For the Bible never teaches the concept of a universal judgment. On the contrary, its pages teach that judgment is dispensed severally—to the church, to the Jews, and also to the nations. Unfortunately, people use this parable as the basis for the idea that one cannot know for sure his salvation until the time of the judgment seat. Consequently, many hope that there will yet be opportunity for people to be saved after death. And thus the church today becomes a haven for many people who can only hope for salvation. For if the teaching of a universal judgment is true, then we do indeed have no way of knowing with any degree of certainty our salvation today.

(b) Who in this parable are the ones to be judged? It tells us that it is to be “all the nations” (v.32). This word “nations” is the same as is translated “the Gentiles” in Matthew 4.15; 6.32; 10.5,18; 12.18; and 20.19,25. It is a Greek word which in its meaning includes all the Gentiles.

(c) When is to be the judgment that is spoken of here in this parable? We are told by the Lord that it will be before the millennial kingdom (see v.34). Revelation 20.11-15 tells us that there will be the judgment of the great white throne after the millennium. And thus by these facts we know that no such concept as a universal judgment can be true.

(d) Where is the judgment in this parable held? The Son of man, we are told, shall sit on the throne of His glory. In Revelation 3.21 we see two thrones—the Father’s and the Son’s. Today our Lord sits on His Father’s throne. In the future, though, He will sit on His own throne. The throne here in Matthew 25.31 is His own throne, that is to say, His throne on earth in the kingdom; for how can the nations be separated if they are in the air and not on earth, since it is only on earth that national boundaries exist? If they are in the air, then it would mean that the judged must be raptured—which would further mean that a part of the raptured are unsaved, a circumstance which we know cannot be true.

(e) The ones to be judged in this parable are living, none of them is dead. The Scriptures reveal that resurrection occurs twice, and these two are separated in time by a thousand years. Now we know that in the first resurrection, there is none unsaved. Yet here in the parable the goats are condemned to eternal fire, and hence this parable cannot be speaking of the first resurrection and therefore has nothing to do with Christians.

(f) At the time alluded to in this parable, Satan has not yet been cast into the lake of fire; for the word “prepared” in verse 41 proves that this action has not yet been taken. If the judgment here were the same as that of the great white throne, Satan would at this time now be cast into the lake of fire.

(g) The appellation “the Son of man” is a name used in connection with the kingdom. After the millennium, the Son “will deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father” (1 Cor. 15.24).

(h) Prophecy must be interpreted with other prophecies. And by doing so, we shall easily see that the Bible speaks of several judgments.