Matthew 25:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The most cherished words, which we hold firmly in our hearts, must now be contemplated with utmost attention, for within them lies the essence of Christ’s discourse. He emphasizes the significance of humanity and acts of charity, which is why He addresses these themes in various forms in His previous statements and now with even greater clarity and strength, encompassing not just two or three individuals, but the entirety of creation. Indeed, when referencing two individuals earlier, He was alluding to two opposing groups, one faithful and the other unfaithful. However, now He presents a message that is both more profound and awe-inspiring.

Because the initial arrival of the Lord was not marked by grandeur and was characterized by humiliation, He prophesies regarding His return, ‘when He shall come in His glory.’ In His second coming, He will appear with splendor and accompanied by His angels who will serve Him.

With the intent to commemorate the Passover in two days and to be surrendered to crucifixion, facing reproach from humanity and partaking in bitter substances, He boldly declares the forthcoming triumph of the Conqueror, ensuring that any arising temptations are countered by the assurance of divine reward. It is crucial to note that the One who will be revealed in His splendor will be the Son of Man. Furthermore, the phrase 'And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, and the goats on the left' should be interpreted in light of another passage, 'The heart of the wise is on the right hand, and the heart of the foolish on the left,' alongside the earlier teaching in the same Gospel, 'Let not your left hand know what your right hand does.'

He again mentions His Second Coming so that those who listen may feel reverence and be brought to repentance. He refers to His glory as that which is fitting for Him as God, in contrast to His initial coming which was marked by humiliation. He will occupy the role of Judge upon the throne of glory, symbolizing a majestic and royal seat.

At His initial arrival, the majesty of His divine nature was concealed beneath the flesh He assumed for our benefit; presently, it remains hidden in the heart of the Father in heaven along with the glorified flesh. Ultimately, all His splendor will be unveiled: from east to west it will emerge, radiating and illuminating the corners of the cosmos with the brilliance of His divine essence, accompanied by the call of the universal and life-giving trumpet summoning all creation to Him. Until that time, He subtly urges the angels, holding back their fervor against the adversaries of God; but later, He will return visibly, and will not remain silent, for He will contemptuously reject the disobedient and subject them to suffering.

When He returns on His throne of glory, there will be no one who does not see Him. No one will ask like the wise men the first time: Where is the King? [Matt. 2:2], for this time all will see the King and recognize Him as King. But this seeing and recognizing will be joy for some, but fear and terror for others.

The God-Man did not specify the location where this judgment would occur, nor the exact place of His glorious throne, upon which He would sit to judge the world. However, some have interpreted the words of the prophet Joel, who spoke of gathering all nations and bringing them to the valley of Jehoshaphat for judgment, saying, "And I will gather all tongues, and I will bring them to Jehoshaphat's court, and I will reason with them there concerning my people" (Joel 3:2), and "Let all the Gentiles arise and go up to the Judgment Seat of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the tongues that are around" (Joel 3:12). Thus, they have claimed that it is in the valley of Jehoshaphat where the Lord will descend to establish His glorious throne and execute His fearsome judgment.

The most daunting truth found within the entire Gospel pertains to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and His inevitable global judgment. Indeed, Your judgment, O Lord, is profound. The Venerable Ephraim the Syrian expresses, “I recalled this hour and trembled with great fear, considering what will be unveiled then. Who can articulate it? What words can capture it? The thought alone fills my limbs with dread, leaving me fatigued, my eyes streaming tears, my voice faltering, my lips sealed, my tongue paralyzed, and my mind embracing silence. Such awe-inspiring and fearsome wonders have not occurred since the dawn of creation, nor will they persist through the ages!” With this sacred reverence, the saints contemplated the Second Coming of Christ.

Following His explanation to the apostles concerning the signs of His Second Coming, Jesus instructed them and all His disciples to remain vigilant and prepare themselves to encounter Him with righteous lives. He described how He would render judgment upon humankind. The revelation of Christ in His full glory, alongside all His angels, is comparable to the majestic arrival of an earthly king, who occupies a ceremonial throne before his gathered subjects. However, this analogy does not imply that Jesus will physically sit on His throne; it merely illustrates that His manifestation as the Sovereign of Heaven will be accompanied by a grandeur beyond human imagination, inspired only by the regal processions of the mightiest earthly rulers.

The Teaching of the Final Judgment. Christ concluded His foretelling of Jerusalem's and the world's ultimate fate with the Teaching of the Final Judgment. He stated, "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him," He will separate humanity as a shepherd divides his flock, announcing to those on His right that they have been invited to inherit the kingdom of their heavenly Father, which has been prepared for them based on their acts of compassion. Their confusion regarding why they are bestowed such favor is clarified when He explains that the merciful deeds they performed for their less fortunate brothers were actually done unto Him, thus granting them access to the divine kingdom.

The phrase "When the Son of Man comes" alludes to the second majestic and awe-inspiring arrival of the Lord during the final judgment at the end of time. "In His glory" indicates His resurrected form, embodying the splendor and honor appropriate for Him as the sovereign of all creation (Acts 1:11, Eph. 1:20-22, 1 Thess. 4:16, 1 Cor. 15:24-52). "All the holy angels with Him" points to the gathering of every angel and every nation—what a magnificent sight it will be, inspiring terror in sinners destined for condemnation and causing resplendent glory for the righteous in the eyes of all creation, both angelic and human! "He shall sit upon the throne of glory" signifies His reign on a splendid throne, representing the Lord's role as the sovereign and judge of the cosmos.