Teaching resource for Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson for May 17

Ideas and questions to help group members and leaders study and teach Matthew 25:31–46

First, use this icebreaker idea.

1. Divide the group into pairs.
2. Ask this question: How do you account for the growing popularity of universalism (that all people will ultimately go to heaven)?
3. Allow the pairs three minutes and then call the group back together.

Matthew 25:31–33

1. What does this prophecy follow? A series of parables about judgment. Of the approximately thirty parables that Jesus told, twelve of them have to do with judgment.
2. What is the Old Testament background for the title “Son of Man”? Daniel 7:13ff.
3. Who will come with the Son of Man? All the angels. Do we have any idea what that number will be? Jude 14 mentions ten thousand. Revelation 5:11 says there are myriads. The Bible does not give an exact number.
4. How is the Son of Man coming? In his glory. How does that description compare with how he came the first time? Even though his birth was announced by the angels, he was born in lowly circumstances.
5. Who does “all the nations” include? Some say just the Gentiles, while others say it includes Jews as well. Some say believers and unbelievers, and others only unbelievers. The commentators I trust the most say we really do not know. Is this a reference to the bema seat judgment just for believers or the white throne judgment for unbelievers or another judgment? Again, we just don’t know. The International Commentary says this: “The exact who and when is not important, for God’s principles of judgment are immutable” p. 1148.
6. What light does Ezekiel 34:17ff shed on the separating of the sheep and goats by a shepherd? This metaphor had been around since the Old Testament era with the Lord as the shepherd and Israel as his sheep. Now Jesus takes on that identity as well as that of judge.

Matthew 25:34–40

1. What did the King say to those on his right (sheep)? To come and inherit the kingdom. He also called them blessed. How long had the kingdom been prepared for them? Since the foundation of the world.
2. What was the reason Jesus gave for their being invited? Because of the way they had treated the least of his brothers and sisters. What they did for them was actually being done unto him.
3. Who was Jesus referring to by “the least of these”? See Matthew 10:40–42
4. What additional insight does Proverbs 19:17 give as far as understanding who the least of these were? Anyone who lends to the Lord is lending to the poor.
5. Who were some of the specific groups Jesus mentioned were among the least of these? The hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and prisoners.
6. Were the righteous in 25:38–39 somewhat surprised that they were ministering to Jesus when they were ministering to those he mentioned? Yes. They had quietly served those people with no thought of reward or recognition, and they had no idea they were actually serving Jesus by serving them.
7. When churches serve others today, is their attitude the same or different from those early disciples? While there are some who go about quietly serving others without wanting recognition, there are others who take advantage of camera phones and social media to take pictures and posting on social media almost instantly any acts of service done for others. For the latter group, it’s almost like their acts of service are done to be seen by others.
8. Is the way we treat others any indication of what we think about Jesus? Yes, it is. John went so far to say that we cannot love Jesus and hate our brother. See 1 John 4:20.
9. What other two groups are referred to in Ephesians 5:25 and Colossians 3:23 that the way we treat them is a reflection of what we think of Jesus? Spouse and employees/employes.

Matthew 25:41–46

1. How does what the King says to those on his right compare with what he said to those on his left? Come vs. depart; blessed vs. cursed; inherit the kingdom vs. go into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
2. What was the reason for the difference? Those on the left neglected to do good to Jesus by neglecting to do good unto the least of them.
3. How does 25:46 address the growing popularity of universalism and annihilationism? Jesus made it clear that not all people will ultimately be saved (universalism), and there is a real place of punishment that is eternal. Annihilationism says that those without Christ simply go into a state of non-existence at death.
4. Does Matthew 25:31–46 teach salvation by doing good works? On the surface it may appear that it does, but it does not. The treatment of “the least of these” was based on the fact that one group knew the Lord and the other group did not. How we treat others in general is a reflection of what we think of Jesus.
5. We often think that sins of omission are not quite as grievous as sins of commission. What do we learn about that idea in our passage? The sins of omission by the “goats” were quite grievous.
   
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   EDITOR’S NOTE — Chip Warren has led groups of all ages, as well as trained group leaders, through the local church for over forty years. He’s a graduate of Southwestern Seminary and lives in Albertville, Alabama. Warren provides teaching resources such as these questions related to specific passages of Scripture at chipwarren.org.