Matthew 25:31-32: Jesus Christ, Worthy to Judge

“Before Him will be gathered all the nations,” Jesus speaking of Himself in Matthew 25:32

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers, one hundred million angels singing. Multitudes are marching to a big kettledrum. Voices calling and voices crying, some are born and some are dying; its Alpha and Omega’s kingdom come.

            (Johnny Cash, When the Man Comes Around, 2002)

“But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows Himself holy in righteousness.”  Isaiah 5:16

In the Olivet Discourse, Christ answers the disciples questions (24:3) by taking them through a series of signs and events that will lead up to His return.  He also admonishes them to not only “be ready” (24:42), but to “be found working” (24:46).   And here in this passage Christ answers why:  “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.  Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,” (v. 31-32).  This is judgment. 

The coming Day of Judgment is testified by the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 13:6; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 1:15; 3:14; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7), and by Matthew (13:41-43, 49; 16:27, 19:28).  It will be fulfilled when Christ returns (Revelation 14:14-16; 20:11-15).   And it will be Christ Himself who reigns and who will judge.   “And the Father has given Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man,” (John 5:27).

Christ is the fulfillment of the Daniel 7:13-14 prophecy concerning the Son of Man.  He alone could approach the Ancient of Days.   When no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth was worthy to break the seals and open the scroll in the right hand of God the Father, then the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, stepped forward, took the scroll from God the Father and opened it.  (See Revelation 5:1-7)   The scroll represents the plan of Almighty God to right the wrongs, restore creation and execute judgment.   Christ alone is worthy to open the scroll and execute judgment.

Why is Christ alone worthy?  Why will He be the judge?  Why not a council of Old Testament prophets?  Why not a panel of great religious leaders in human history?  Why not the twelve apostles or the twenty-four elders (Revelation 4:4) or a panel of our peers?    One word makes Christ worthy:  “Conquered.”  That qualification is laid out in Revelation 5:5. Christ has conquered.  Jesus is worshiped in Revelation 5:9 because He, as the myriad of angels say, is “worthy…to take the scroll and open the seals” (i.e., worthy to execute judgment), because, the angels continue, “You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” 

Paul also affirms Christ’s death on the cross as making Him worthy to judge.  Paul speaks of Jesus this way: “though He was in the form of God…made Himself nothing…He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” (Philippians 2:6-11).

Christ’s resurrection affirms His authority to judge.  For Christ says, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades,” (Revelation 1:17-18).   

Christian, rejoice, endure and persevere.  For we do not worship a mere prophet or a New Age guru or a good moral teacher.   We worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16), Creator of heaven and earth (Colossians 1:16), who is far above all rule, authority, power and dominion (Ephesians 1:21).  He is returning and will make His enemies His footstool (Psalm 110:1).  He alone is worthy to judge.    Will you be found watching and working?

"The Last Judgment" by Rogier van der Weyden.   Peter Hitchens (blood brother of well-known atheist Christopher Hitchens) in his book "Rage Against God," says this painting was instrumental in bringing him to faith in Christ.