034 DRRIC Biblical Articles:The King Is Coming! Matthew 25:31–46
034 DRRIC Biblical Articles The King Is Coming! Matthew 25:31–46 June, 13, 2025
Dear reader,
The world is on fire. Wars and rumors of wars. Unrest among nations. Natural disasters. Disease. Persecution. Love growing cold. It sounds like today’s headlines. Yet Jesus spoke these words two thousand years ago. In Matthew 24 He warns: “Take heed that no one deceives you... See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:4,6)
But the end will come. Christ will return on the clouds. He will be surrounded by angels, seated on the throne of His glory. Not a dream, not symbolism. But reality, just as He Himself describes in the parable of Matthew 25.
Then all the nations will be gathered before Him. And He will separate them. Not based on origin, status, or words, but based on simple acts of love: a cup of water, a visit, a meal, a cloak. Deeds not born out of duty or performance, but out of faith working through love.
God is holy. Jesus comes as Judge. As the Son of Man, as foretold in Daniel 7:13–14:
13. “I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
His judgment is pure, holy, and final. Because God is holy. He does not tolerate evil and also calls us to holiness. Because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) That awareness changes how you live. You no longer live carelessly, but watchfully. Because you are touched by His holy love.
God is just. The separation between sheep and goats reveals God's justice. Not arbitrary. Not impersonal. But pure and fair. God cannot overlook sin. And at the same time, He is so loving that He Himself bore the punishment in Christ. That is where God's justice shines the most: at the cross. Jesus was judged in our place, so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish. Whoever hides in Him does not need to fear judgment.
God is merciful. Jesus emphasizes:
“For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” (Matthew 25:35–36)
What stands out in this parable is that both the righteous and the unrighteous are surprised.
The righteous ask in astonishment:
“Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” (Matthew 25:37–39)
They were not aware of their deeds as anything great. They did not credit themselves. And that is exactly what Jesus reveals: their love was real, not aimed at effect, not based on merit. Their faith lived in hidden acts of love.
The others ask the same question, but with a different tone. Not surprised in wonder, but from self-righteousness:
“Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?” (Matthew 25:44)
They did not see Jesus, because they did not live with Him. Their eyes were closed, not from humility, but from indifference. That is the difference. Not in knowing or not knowing, but in loving or not loving.
There is a day coming when the Son of Man will appear in glory. Then nothing will remain hidden. Then He speaks as King, as Judge, as Redeemer. One will hear: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom.” The other will hear: “Depart from Me.” The question is not what you know, but whether you live with Him. Do you know Him as Judge, as King, as Redeemer?
As long as that day has not come, His invitation still sounds: Repent. Bow before the King. Serve Him in the least of these. And one day hear the most beautiful words that exist: Welcome home, My child.
Amen.