Matthew 25:41

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Then {G5119} shall he say {G2046} also {G2532} unto them on {G1537} the left hand {G2176}, Depart {G4198} from {G575} me {G1700}, ye cursed {G2672}, into {G1519} everlasting {G166} fire {G4442}, prepared {G2090} for the devil {G1228} and {G2532} his {G846} angels {G32}:

"Then he will also speak to those on his left, saying, `Get away from me, you who are cursed! Go off into the fire prepared for the Adversary and his angels!

Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:

Commentary

Matthew 25:41 (KJV) is a solemn and sobering statement from Jesus Christ, delivered as part of His discourse on the end times and the final judgment, often referred to as the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.

Context

This verse comes at the climax of Jesus' teaching on the final judgment, immediately following His invitation to those on His right hand (the "sheep") to inherit the kingdom (Matthew 25:34). Here, Jesus turns to those on His left hand (the "goats"), who are being judged for their failure to show compassion and practical love to "the least of these" (Matthew 25:45). This entire passage (Matthew 25:31-46) illustrates the criteria by which humanity will be separated at His second coming.

Key Themes

  • Final Judgment and Separation: The verse vividly portrays a definitive and irreversible separation between those who are blessed and those who are cursed. This judgment is conducted by Christ Himself, who sits as King and Judge.
  • Eternal Consequence: The phrase "everlasting fire" signifies a punishment of unending duration. It underscores the gravity of rejecting God's ways and neglecting His call to love and service. This concept is further reinforced in Matthew 25:46, where both "punishment" and "life" are described as "everlasting."
  • Origin of Hell: Crucially, Jesus states that this "everlasting fire" was "prepared for the devil and his angels." This highlights that hell was not originally intended for humanity, but for Satan and his rebellious followers. Human beings enter it only by choosing to align themselves with evil and reject God's grace.
  • Consequences of Neglect: While the "sheep" are blessed for their acts of service, the "goats" are condemned not for overt evil, but for their inaction and lack of compassion towards others, particularly the vulnerable.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "depart" is poreuomai (πορεύομαι), meaning to go away or journey. It emphasizes a complete and final severance from the presence of Christ. The term "cursed" (kataramenoi, καταραμένοι) indicates those under a divine anathema or condemnation. The phrase "everlasting fire" is pyr aionion (πῦρ αἰώνιον), where aionion denotes an eternal, unending quality, consistent with other biblical descriptions of eternal punishment.

Practical Application

Matthew 25:41 serves as a profound warning and a call to introspection. It compels believers to examine their lives and ensure their faith is expressed through tangible acts of love, mercy, and compassion towards others, especially those in need. Jesus identifies with the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned (Matthew 25:35-36). This verse reminds us that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but finds its validation in active love for God and neighbor. It underscores the immense seriousness of God's final judgment and the eternal consequences of our choices in this life.

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Cross-References

  • Jude 1:6 (12 votes)

    And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

  • Jude 1:7 (12 votes)

    Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

  • 2 Peter 2:4 (11 votes)

    For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

  • Revelation 20:10 (8 votes)

    And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

  • Revelation 20:15 (8 votes)

    And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

  • Matthew 13:42 (8 votes)

    And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

  • Matthew 13:40 (8 votes)

    As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.