Matthew 25:39

25:31-46 This is a description of the last judgment. It is as an explanation of the former parables. There is a judgment to come, in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting happiness, or misery. Christ shall come, not only in the glory of his Father, but in his own glory, as Mediator. The wicked and godly here dwell together, in the same cities, churches, families, and are not always to be known the one from the other; such are the weaknesses of saints, such the hypocrisies of sinners; and death takes both: but in that day they will be parted for ever. Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd; he will shortly distinguish between those that are his, and those that are not. All other distinctions will be done away; but the great one between saints and sinners, holy and unholy, will remain for ever. The happiness the saints shall possess is very great. It is a kingdom; the most valuable possession on earth; yet this is but a faint resemblance of the blessed state of the saints in heaven. It is a kingdom prepared. The Father provided it for them in the greatness of his wisdom and power; the Son purchased it for them; and the blessed Spirit, in preparing them for the kingdom, is preparing it for them. It is prepared for them: it is in all points adapted to the new nature of a sanctified soul. It is prepared from the foundation of the world. This happiness was for the saints, and they for it, from all eternity. They shall come and inherit it.

What we inherit is not got by ourselves. It is God that makes heirs of heaven. We are not to suppose that acts of bounty will entitle to eternal happiness. Good works done for God's sake, through Jesus Christ, are here noticed as marking the character of believers made holy by the Spirit of Christ, and as the effects of grace bestowed on those who do them. The wicked in this world were often called to come to Christ for life and rest, but they turned from his calls; and justly are those bid to depart from Christ, that would not come to him. Condemned sinners will in vain offer excuses. The punishment of the wicked will be an everlasting punishment; their state cannot be altered. Thus life and death, good and evil, the blessing and the curse, are set before us, that we may choose our way, and as our way so shall our end be.

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? For though he bore the sicknesses of his people, yet we never read of his being sick himself, nor was he ever cast into prison; but this has been the case of many of his servants, as John the Baptist, Peter, and Paul, and multitudes of others, who have been tenderly and affectionately used by their fellow Christians.

25:39-44 Abigail believed that David would be king over Israel, and greatly esteemed his pious and excellent character. She deemed his proposal of marriage honourable, and advantageous to her, notwithstanding his present difficulties. With great humility, and doubtless agreeably to the customs of those times, she consented, being willing to share his trails. Thus those who join themselves to Christ, must be willing now to suffer with him, believing that hereafter they shall reign with him.

Then shall the righteous ... - This answer is indicative of humility - a deep sense of their being unworthy such commendation. They will feel that their poor acts of kindness have come so far short of what they should have been that they have no claim to praise or reward. It is not, however, to be supposed that in the day of judgment this will be actually "said" by the righteous, but that this would be a proper expression of their feelings.

[Reformed Biblical] Received me kindly. Naked . Poorly clothed. Among the Jews they were called naked who were clad in poor raiment, or they who had on only the tunic or inner garment, without any outer garment. See Barnes "Matthew 5:40 Acts 19:16; Mr 14:51,52; Job 22:6; Isaiah 58:7. {e} "For I was" Isaiah 58:7; Ezekiel 18:7 {f} "stranger" 1 Pe 4:9; 3 John 1:5 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 25 - Verse 36 Verse 36. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 25:35" {g} "naked" James 2:15,16 {h} "ye visited" James 1:27 {i} "in prison" 2 Titus 1:16; Hebrews 13:2 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 25 - Verse 37 Verses 37-39. Then shall the righteous, etc. This answer is indicative of humility—a deep sense of their being unworthy such commendation. They will feel that their poor acts of kindness have come so far short of what they should have been, that they have no claim to praise or reward. It is not, however, to be supposed that in the day of judgment this will be actually said by the righteous, but that this would be a proper expression of their feelings. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 25 - Verse 38 ## Verse 38. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 25:37" ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 25 - Verse 39 ## Verse 39. No Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes on "Matthew 25:37" ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 25 - Verse 40 Verse 40. One of the least of these.

## If anyone takes away your coat, give him your shirt also. n ## If anyone takes away what is yours, o do not de mand its return, p for you cannot. q ## To anyone who asks something of you, give it to him, and do not ask for it back, r for the Father de sires that gifts be given to all from His own riches. Blessed is he who gives charitably according to the commandment, for he is blameless. ## Woe to him who receives. If a needy man re ceives charity, he is blameless, but anyone is not in need will be called to account for why he accepted it. And being imprisoned, he will be interrogated concerning his actions, and he will not be released until he has repaid every last penny. s Indeed, it has also been said: Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you have discerned to whom you will give. ## k Matthew 5:39; Luke 6:29. l Matthew 5:48, 19:21. m Matthew 5:41. n Matthew 5:40. o Matthew 5:42; Luke 6:30. p Luke 6:30. q Matthew 5:39. r Luke 6:30; Matthew 5:42. s Matthew 5:25, 18:34; Luke 12:58. ## THE SECOND COMMANDMENT T ## his is the second commandment of the teaching: You shall not murder. t ## You shall not commit adultery. u ## You shall not be sexually perverse. v ## You shall not be sexually promiscuous. w ## You shall not steal. x ## You shall not practice magic. y ## You shall not practice sorcery. z You shall not murder a child by abortion, nor kill a child at birth. ## You shall not covet your neighbor’s things. a ## You shall not commit perjury. b

## Proposed Versification Source Matthew 2:1–9 JST Matthew 3:19–28 Matthew 5:1–56 JST Matthew 5:1–50 Matthew 6:1–39 JST Matthew 6:1–39 Matthew 7:1–40 JST Matthew 7:1–37 Matthew 21:1–24 JST Matthew 21:34b–56 Matthew 24:1–63 Joseph Smith—Matthew Luke 3:1–26 JST Luke 3:1–20 Luke 12:1–23 JST Luke 12:40–58 Luke 17:1–8 JST Luke 17:34–40 John 1:1–40 JST John 1:1–34 ## “The Book of Abraham” In Elder McConkie’s proposal, the text of the book of Abraham was to remain essentially the same as in previous editions of the Pearl of Great Price but with new versification. The column on the left gives Elder McConkie’s pro posed new versification. The column on the right is the current 1981/2013 versification. Appendix III | 165 ## Proposed Versification Source Abraham 1:1–47 Abraham 1:1–31 Abraham 2:1–33 Abraham 2:1–25 Abraham 3:1–41 Abraham 3:1–28 Abraham 4:1–38 Abraham 4:1–31 Abraham 5:1–26 Abraham 5:1–21 ## “The Testimony of Joseph Smith” In Elder McConkie’s proposal, Joseph Smith’s 1838 history was to remain canonized but with new versification. As above, the column on the left gives Elder McConkie’s proposed new versification. The column on the right is the current 1981/2013 versification of Joseph Smith—History.