Matthew 25:31-36

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:33

He shall set the sheep, etc. - The right hand signifies, among the rabbins, approbation and eminence: the left hand, rejection, and disapprobation. Hence in Sohar Chadash it is said, "The right hand is given, the left also is given - to the Israelites and the Gentiles are given paradise and hell - this world, and the world to come." The right and left were emblematical of endless beatitude and endless misery among the Romans. Hence Virgil: - Hic locus est, partes ubi se via findit in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:34

Ye blessed of my Father - This is the king's address to his followers; and contains the reason why they were found in the practice of all righteousness, and were now brought to this state of glory - they were blessed - came as children, and received the benediction of the Father, and became, and continued to be, members of the heavenly family. Inherit - The inheritance is only for the children of the family - if sons, then heirs, Galatians 4:7 , but not otherwise. The sons only shall... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:35

I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat - Every thing which is done to a follower of Christ, whether it be good or evil, he considers as done to himself, see Matthew 25:40 ; Acts 9:4 , Acts 9:5 ; Hebrews 6:10 . Of all the fruits of the Spirit, none are mentioned here but those that spring from love, or mercy; because these give men the nearest conformity to God. Jesus had said, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy; and he here shows how this promise shall be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:36

I was sick, and ye visited me - Relieving the strangers, and visiting the sick, were in high estimation among the Jews. One of their sayings on this head is worthy of notice: "He who neglects to visit the sick is like him who has shed blood." That is, as he has neglected, when it was in his power, to preserve life, he is as guilty in the sight of the Lord as he is who has committed murder. See Kypke in loco. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:31

Verse 31 Matthew 25:31.Now when the Son of man shall come in his glory. Christ follows out the same doctrine, and what he formerly described under parables, he now explains clearly and without figures. The sum of what is said is, that believers, in order to encourage themselves to a holy and upright conduct, ought to contemplate with the eyes of faith the heavenly life, which, though it is now concealed, will at length be manifested at the last coming of Christ. For, when he declares that, when... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:32

Verse 32 32.And all nations shall be assembled before him. He employs large and splendid titles for extolling his kingdom, that the disciples may learn to expect a different kind of happiness from what they had imagined. For they were satisfied with this single consideration, that their nation was delivered from the miseries with which it was then oppressed, so that it would be manifest that God had not in vain established his covenant with Abraham and his posterity. But Christ extends much... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:34

Verse 34 34.Come, you blessed of my Father. We must remember Christ’s design; for he bids his disciples rest satisfied now with hope, that they may with patience and tranquillity of mind look for the enjoyment of the heavenly kingdom; and next, he bids them strive earnestly, and not become wearied in the right course. To this latter clause he refers, when he promises the inheritance of the heavens to none but those who by good works aim at the prize of the heavenly calling. But before speaking... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 25:35

Verse 35 35.For I was hungry. If Christ were now speaking of the cause of our salvation, the Papists could not be blamed for inferring that we merit eternal life by good works; but as Christ had no other design than to exhort his people to holy and upright conduct, it is improper to conclude from his words what is the value of the merits of works. With regard to the stress which they lay on the word for, as if it pointed out the cause, it is a weak argument; for we know that, when eternal life... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 25:31

When ( ὁ ì ταν δε Ì , but when ) . The particle, unnoticed in the Authorized Version, indicates the distinction between this section and the preceding parables, the latter exemplifying the judgment specially on Christians, this setting forth the judgment on the whole world. Son of man. With his glorified body, such as he was seen at his Transfiguration ( Acts 1:11 ). In his glory. The term occurs twice in this verse, as elsewhere ( Matthew 16:27 ; Matthew 19:28 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 25:31

The Son of man exercising judgment. The advent of Messiah was, in the Jewish mind, associated with general judgment. The people looked forward with dread to the Messianic era. There are some who can regard the passage commencing with this verse as descriptive. Others regard it as parabolic, with the scenery taken from men's ideas of the afterlife. It is difficult to follow the passage as descriptive, because human thought and human language are incapable of dealing with actual events beyond... read more

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