40: The big issue which comes immediately to the forefront here is works-based salvation. Jesus commends the sheep for what they have done and says nothing of what they have believed. Does this prove that salvation is by works alone? Notice what is said. These works are done for Jewish people in the time of their greatest trouble. Doing a work for one of them at that time will be the greatest indication of belief that could be conceived. None in that day would dare help his people who are not truly saved individuals.
This is different from the present time. Those who helped the Jews escape from the terrors of the Nazi executors did not automatically win for themselves eternal life. Although that was a great and good thing to do, the action itself could not prove a person’s devotion to Christ. During this future time, however, the man of sin, the antichrist, will be in greater power than old Hitler ever could have hoped to achieve. In that day, to refuse his authority and opt out of his kingdom on this earth will be deadly. Those who do so will be seen as mad men. Those who do so can only be children of God. Only that could motivate a person to make such a deadly choice. Only that will cause them to help the Jews against the wishes of the antichrist.
41: This makes sense then of his condemnation of the goats. Jesus is a good judge, not some kind of damnation-loving sicko. Those who throw in with the antichrist in the tribulation period will have no doubt that they are doing so against the wishes of the biblical Jesus, and the biblical Father. But, they will be willing to give their allegiance to a pretender. The antichrist will be seen as the holder of the christ-spirit, the greatest manifestation of the cosmic oneness, the reincarnation of every great and good person that men care to worship. He will be the ultimate phony.
Matthew 25:37-39
37-39: How could it be that the sheep would be unaware of their actions? This question has two explanations. First, true saints of any age are unassuming in their service to God. They do not give their alms to be seen. They serve the Lord because it is the right thing to do, and because they love him who first loved us. Second, these gentile people are saved after the rapture of the church. They live during the tribulation period. Satan’s success in twisting and confusing the word of God will be at its all-time high. These Christians may, in many cases, be totally unaware of this passage of Scripture at the time of their service. One may be saved without being familiar with the entirety of the Bible.
Matthew 25:33-36
33: Jesus sets the sheep on his right hand because that is a place of honor. Those on the right could expect to enter the kingdom. Notice that he makes this division before he announces his judgment.
34: The sheep are blessed by the father of the King. This is God the Father. The eternal purpose of God for this kingdom on earth is here mentioned. The kingdom has been prepared for the saints from the very beginning. Although there will, of course, be Jewish saints in the kingdom, he is here referring to gentile saints.
35: Several things must be noted here. First, what we find in this list are helps that saved individuals of all ages could be expected to perform. Sharing food, clothing, and shelter, are areas in which any decent person will help his or her fellow man. Second, Christians are to love one another. This love includes help with such things as these physical needs. Third, in this particular instance we find gentile believers showing their love for Jewish people during the time of tribulation.
36: As in the last verse, these are things that Christians might be expected to do at any time for anyone. However, those sick or in prison because of the work of the enemy, the devil, are especially to be the object of the saint’s care.
Matthew 25:31-32
31: The Son of man is, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ. The coming in glory with the angels refers to his second coming. This will occur at the end of the age, which the disciples had asked about. He will be coming to establish his kingdom on earth physically for one thousand years. The throne he occupies will be in Jerusalem. From there he will rule this world.
32: The nations here refered to are the gentile nations. Individual gentiles will then be judged for their fitness to enter the kingdom. This is not the final judgement of the living and dead.