Focused Passage

Matthew 25:31-46

Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man

Matthew 25 moves from the need for prepared watchfulness in the delayed arrival of the bridegroom, to accountable stewardship during the master’s absence, to the final enthroned judgment of the Son of Man over all nations. The progression moves from closed door, to settled accounts, to eternal destinies.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

34 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 foundation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,

36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’

37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?

38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?

39 When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’

40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

41 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.

42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’

44 And they too will reply, ‘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?’

45 Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’

46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 31

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction When Ὅταν G3752 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Son υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular comes ἔλθῃ G2064 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular glory δόξῃ G1391 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction all πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural angels ἄγγελοι G32 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural with μετ’ G3326 Preposition Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τότε G5119 Adverb He will sit καθίσει G2523 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular glorious δόξης G1391 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular throne θρόνου G2362 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 32

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction All πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural the τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural nations ἔθνη G1484 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural will be gathered συναχθήσονται G4863 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural before ἔμπροσθεν G1715 Preposition Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction He will separate ἀφορίσει G873 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [the people] αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural vvv ἀπ’ G575 Preposition one from another ἀλλήλων G240 Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural as ὥσπερ G5618 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular a shepherd ποιμὴν G4166 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular separates ἀφορίζει G873 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural sheep πρόβατα G4263 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural goats ἐρίφων G2056 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 33

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction - μὲν G3303 Conjunction He will place στήσει G2476 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural sheep πρόβατα G4263 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural on ἐκ G1537 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular right δεξιῶν G1188 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural and δὲ G1161 Conjunction the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural goats ἐρίφια G2055 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural on ἐξ G1537 Preposition [His] left εὐωνύμων G2176 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural
Verse 34

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular King Βασιλεὺς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular will say ἐρεῖ G2046 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to those τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural on ἐκ G1537 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular right δεξιῶν G1188 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural Come Δεῦτε G1205 Verb - Imperative - 2nd Person Plural you who are οἱ G3588 Article - Vocative Masculine Plural blessed εὐλογημένοι G2127 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Vocative Masculine Plural by τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Father Πατρός G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular inherit κληρονομήσατε G2816 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείαν G932 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular prepared ἡτοιμασμένην G2090 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular for you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition [the] foundation καταβολῆς G2602 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of [the] world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 35

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I was hungry ἐπείνασα G3983 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you gave ἐδώκατέ G1325 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular [something] to eat φαγεῖν G5315 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active I was thirsty ἐδίψησα G1372 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular you gave Me [something] to drink ἐποτίσατέ G4222 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural I was ἤμην G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular a stranger ξένος G3581 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you took Me in συνηγάγετέ G4863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 36

Original words

[I was] naked γυμνὸς G1131 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you clothed περιεβάλετέ G4016 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular I was sick ἠσθένησα G770 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you looked after ἐπεσκέψασθέ G1980 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular I was ἤμην G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition prison φυλακῇ G5438 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you visited ἤλθατε G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . πρός G4314 Preposition Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 37

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural righteous δίκαιοι G1342 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural will answer ἀποκριθήσονται G611 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular when πότε G4219 Conjunction did we see εἴδομεν G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular hungry πεινῶντα G3983 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction feed [You] ἐθρέψαμεν G5142 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural or G2228 Conjunction thirsty διψῶντα G1372 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction give [You] something to drink ἐποτίσαμεν G4222 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Verse 38

Original words

- δέ G1161 Conjunction When πότε G4219 Conjunction did we see εἴδομεν G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular a stranger ξένον G3581 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction take [You] in συνηγάγομεν G4863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural or G2228 Conjunction naked γυμνὸν G1131 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction clothe [You] περιεβάλομεν G4016 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Verse 39

Original words

- δέ G1161 Conjunction When πότε G4219 Conjunction did we see εἴδομεν G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular sick ἀσθενοῦντα G770 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition prison φυλακῇ G5438 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction visit ἤλθομεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural . . . πρός G4314 Preposition You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Verse 40

Original words

And Καὶ G2532 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular King Βασιλεὺς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular will reply ἐρεῖ G2046 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Truly Ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural whatever ἐφ’ G1909 Preposition . . . ὅσον G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular you did ἐποιήσατε G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural for one ἑνὶ G1520 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural least ἐλαχίστων G1646 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural - Superlative of these τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural brothers ἀδελφῶν G80 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural of Mine μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular you did ἐποιήσατε G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural for Me ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 41

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb - καὶ G2532 Conjunction He will say ἐρεῖ G2046 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to those τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural on ἐξ G1537 Preposition [His] left εὐωνύμων G2176 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural Depart Πορεύεσθε G4198 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural from ἀπ’ G575 Preposition Me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular [you] who οἱ G3588 Article - Vocative Masculine Plural are cursed κατηραμένοι G2672 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Vocative Masculine Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular fire πῦρ G4442 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular prepared ἡτοιμασμένον G2090 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular for the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular devil διαβόλῳ G1228 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural angels ἀγγέλοις G32 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Verse 42

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I was hungry ἐπείνασα G3983 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you gave ἐδώκατέ G1325 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular nothing οὐκ G3756 Adverb to eat φαγεῖν G5315 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active - (καὶ) G2532 Conjunction I was thirsty ἐδίψησα G1372 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you gave Me nothing to drink ἐποτίσατέ G4222 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . οὐκ G3756 Adverb . . . με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 43

Original words

I was ἤμην G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular a stranger ξένος G3581 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb you did not take Me in συνηγάγετέ G4863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular [I was] naked γυμνὸς G1131 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb you did not clothe περιεβάλετέ G4016 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular [I was] sick ἀσθενὴς G772 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition prison φυλακῇ G5438 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb you did not look after ἐπεσκέψασθέ G1980 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 44

Original words

And Τότε G5119 Adverb they αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural too καὶ G2532 Conjunction will reply ἀποκριθήσονται G611 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural - λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular when πότε G4219 Conjunction did we see εἴδομεν G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular hungry πεινῶντα G3983 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction thirsty διψῶντα G1372 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction a stranger ξένον G3581 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction naked γυμνὸν G1131 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction sick ἀσθενῆ G772 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition prison φυλακῇ G5438 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb did not minister διηκονήσαμέν G1247 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural to You σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Verse 45

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb [the King] will answer ἀποκριθήσεται G611 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural - λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Truly Ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural whatever ἐφ’ G1909 Preposition . . . ὅσον G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb you did not do ἐποιήσατε G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural for one ἑνὶ G1520 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural least ἐλαχίστων G1646 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural - Superlative of these τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural vvv οὐδὲ G3761 Adverb you did not do ἐποιήσατε G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural for Me ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 46

Original words

And Καὶ G2532 Conjunction they οὗτοι G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural will go away ἀπελεύσονται G565 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular punishment κόλασιν G2851 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural righteous δίκαιοι G1342 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.