Go! And Serve the King - Matthew 25:31-46
Introduction: The Final Separation
Every person on this earth will stand before Jesus one day. The rich and the poor. The powerful and the weak. The famous and the unknown. No one will escape that moment.
And on that day, Jesus will separate people into two groups—like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The question is: Which side will you be on?
Matthew 25:31-46 paints a powerful picture of the final judgment. Jesus makes it clear that what we do in this life matters. Not because good works save us, but because they reveal the truth of our faith.
Today, we will explore this passage in depth and hear the call of God to Go! And Serve the King!
1. Go! And Understand the Coming Judgment
Jesus begins by describing a great and glorious moment—the return of the King.
Matthew 25:31-33 (NLT): "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left."
“Son of Man” – Jesus frequently used this title for Himself, a reference to Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man receives eternal dominion.
“Comes in His glory” – This is the second coming of Christ, where He returns not as a suffering servant but as a glorious King and Judge (Revelation 19:11-16).
“All the nations” – Every person from every generation will be gathered before Him.
“He will separate the people” – The word separate comes from the Greek ?f????? (aphorizo), meaning "to set apart" or "divide with finality." This is not a temporary division—this is eternal.
Revelation 20:11-12 (NLT) – "I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it... And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life."
Jesus is the final Judge.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT) – "For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body."
Everyone will be judged.
This judgment is coming—we must be prepared.
Jesus sees everything—our actions, our motives, our hearts.
Our eternal destiny will be revealed on that day.
Imagine a teacher telling students there will be a final exam but not saying when. The wise students prepare daily, knowing the test could come at any time. Are we prepared for Jesus’ return?
Billy Graham said: "The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet."
Billy’s statement is not just a bold proclamation; it is a biblical certainty.
When Jesus returns, it will not be a quiet or hidden event. It will be glorious, undeniable, and world-altering. The first coming of Jesus was in humility—born in a manger, living as a servant, and dying on the cross for our sins. But His second coming will be in power and majesty as the rightful King and Judge of all creation.
A. The Second Coming Will Be Visible to All
Revelation 1:7 (NLT) declares: "Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him—even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!"
No one will miss or mistake His return. It will not be limited to one location, nor will it be a secret. Every eye will see Him.
B. The Second Coming Will Bring Ultimate Justice
Revelation 19:11-16 (NLT) gives a breathtaking picture of Jesus at His return: "Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war... On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords."
The world is filled with injustice, but Jesus will set everything right. The proud will be humbled, the wicked will be judged, and righteousness will reign.
C. The Second Coming Will Establish God’s Eternal Kingdom
Jesus promised in Matthew 24:30 (NLT): "And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
For those who reject Him, His return will be a moment of fear and regret. But for those who love Him, it will be a moment of victory and joy.
D. The Second Coming Demands Our Readiness
Because Jesus will return suddenly and without warning, we must be ready.
Matthew 24:44 (NLT) says: "You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."
The question is not if Jesus will return, but when. The time to repent, believe, and serve Him is now.
Are You Ready?
Billy Graham’s words remind us that the second coming of Christ is not just a theological idea—it is the future reality of the world. It will bring the ultimate fulfilment of God’s promises, the establishment of His kingdom, and the final separation of those who follow Him from those who reject Him.
If Jesus returned today, would you be found ready, faithful, and serving Him?
2. Go! And Serve Jesus by Serving Others
Jesus then describes what sets the "sheep" apart from the "goats."
Matthew 25:34-40 (NLT): "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’"
The righteous will ask, "Lord, when did we do these things?"
Jesus responds:
"I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father” – The righteous are welcomed into the Kingdom of God, not because of their works, but because of their faith, evidenced by their actions.
"The least of these my brothers and sisters" – The Greek word for "least" is ?????st?? (elachistos), meaning the smallest, weakest, most vulnerable. Jesus identifies personally with them.
Serving others is serving Jesus!
James 2:17 (NLT) – "So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."
True faith leads to action.
Proverbs 19:17 (NLT) – "If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!"
God sees and rewards acts of compassion.
Who are the “least of these” in your life?
Serving others is not an option—it’s the evidence of true faith.
When we serve, we serve Jesus Himself.
A missionary once asked Mother Teresa how she could touch lepers without fear. She replied: "Each one is Jesus in disguise." Do we see Jesus in those who need help?
Francis Chan said: "True faith produces a heart that loves God and people. Anything less is just religion." His words are a powerful reminder of the difference between lifeless religion and genuine, living faith in Christ.
A. True Faith Begins with Loving God
Jesus declared in Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT): "‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment."
Real faith is not about rituals or routines—it is about a relationship with the living God. When we truly know Him, we don’t just follow rules out of obligation; we love Him with all that we are.
The Greek word for love used in this verse is ??ap?? (agapáo)—which refers to a deep, self-sacrificing love. True faith is not just intellectual belief; it is a life surrendered to God in love.
B. True Faith Overflows into Loving People
Jesus continued in Matthew 22:39-40 (NLT): "A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
The evidence of true faith is seen in how we love others. The Apostle John reinforces this in 1 John 4:20 (NLT):
"If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?"
A faith that does not lead to loving others is a dead faith. It becomes empty religion, a list of rules rather than a transformed heart.
C. True Faith is More Than Religious Activity
In James 1:27 (NLT), James writes: "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."
James is not saying religion is bad, but that true, God-honouring religion is lived out in love. True faith is action. If our Christianity is just about going to church, following rules, or looking spiritual—but lacks love—it is just an empty shell.
D. The Danger of Just Having Religion
Jesus Himself warned about those who appear religious but lack true faith. In Matthew 23:27 (NLT), He rebuked the religious leaders: "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity."
The Pharisees were experts in religion, but their hearts were far from God. They obeyed rules, but they didn’t love God or people.
Do You Have Religion or Relationship?
Francis Chan’s statement challenges us to examine our hearts. Are we just following religious traditions, or do we have a faith that is alive with love for God and others?
Jesus is calling us to more than rituals and routines—He is calling us to a living faith that transforms our hearts and actions. True faith is not just believing in God—it is knowing Him, loving Him, and loving people as He does.
3. Go! And Take Eternity Seriously
Jesus then turns to those on His left.
Matthew 25:41-46 (NLT): "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me... I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."
“Eternal fire” – The word a?????? (aionios) means "everlasting, never-ending." Hell is real and eternal.
"Prepared for the devil and his demons" – Hell was not created for people—it was for Satan. But those who reject God will share in his fate.
The greatest sin? Ignoring the needs of others.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 (NLT) – "They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power."
Hell is separation from God.
John 3:36 (NLT) – "Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment."
Rejecting Jesus has consequences.
Eternity is real. Are you living with it in mind?
Do not delay in making things right with God!
A man ignored fire alarms in his building, thinking it was a drill. But the fire was real. Many ignore Jesus' warnings—but one day, it will be too late.
C.S. Lewis said: "There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'Thy will be done.'"
These words are is a profound reflection on the eternal choice every person must make. It highlights the contrast between those who surrender to God’s will and those who reject Him, ultimately facing the consequences of their decision.
A. Surrendering to God: 'Thy Will Be Done'
Jesus Himself provided the ultimate example of submission to the Father’s will. In Luke 22:42 (NLT), as He prayed in Gethsemane, He said: "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."
True discipleship means choosing to trust God completely and surrendering our own will to His. This is what it means to truly follow Christ—letting go of our plans and embracing His perfect will.
The Greek word for “will” here is ????µa (thelema), which refers to God’s gracious purpose and divine desire for humanity. Those who say, “Thy will be done,” are aligning themselves with God’s best plan for their lives, even when it is difficult.
B. Rejecting God: 'Thy Will Be Done'
On the other hand, there are those who refuse to surrender to God. Romans 1:24 (NLT) describes what happens when people persist in rejecting Him: "So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired."
The terrifying reality is that if someone persistently rejects God, He will allow them to follow their own path—even when that path leads to destruction. God will never force anyone to love Him, but He will also not remove the consequences of rejecting Him.
This is the tragic reality of hell—not a place where God sends people against their will, but a place where people choose to go by rejecting His love and grace. C.S. Lewis himself expanded on this idea in The Great Divorce, writing: "The doors of hell are locked on the inside."
C. The Call to Choose Wisely
Joshua gave the people of Israel a choice in Joshua 24:15 (NLT): "But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve... But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."
Every person must decide: Will I submit to God’s will, or will I insist on my own way?
Jesus warned in Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT): "You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
To follow Christ requires surrender, faith, and obedience, but it leads to eternal joy and peace. To reject Him may feel like freedom at first, but it leads to spiritual ruin and separation from God.
Which Will You Choose?
C.S. Lewis’ words remind us that, in the end, there are only two types of people:
Those who trust God and surrender to His perfect will—experiencing His grace, peace, and eternal life.
Those who reject God, insisting on their own way—ultimately facing an eternity without Him.
The question is simple: Which group will you be in? Will you say to God, “Thy will be done”—or will He one day say to you, “Thy will be done”, allowing you to face the consequences of rejecting Him?
May we all have the wisdom and humility to surrender to the only One who truly knows what is best for us—our loving, merciful, and sovereign God.
Conclusion: Go! And Serve the King!
The question Jesus asks in Matthew 25:31-46 is not just about the future—it is about how we live right now.
Are you a sheep or a goat? The answer is found in how you respond to Jesus and how you treat those around you.
Will you serve Jesus by serving others?
Will you show His love to the hungry, the hurting, the lonely, and the lost?
Will you be His hands and feet in a broken world?
Jesus is coming again, and His return will be glorious! But the time to prepare is today.
Are you ready for eternity?
One day, every person will stand before the King. The question is: Will He welcome you into His Kingdom, or will He say, ‘I never knew you’ (Matthew 7:23)?
Invitation to Faith:
If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus, today is the day of salvation. If you already know Him, today is the day to recommit to living out your faith—by loving, serving, and sharing the Good News.
If you have never received Jesus as Lord, pray:
"Lord Jesus, I believe in You. Forgive me, save me, and help me serve You. Amen."
So go! And serve the King! Serve Him with joy, with passion, and with love—because when you serve others, you are serving Him. And one day, you will hear the words we all long to hear:
“Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, NLT).
