What does Matthew 25:33 mean?
The act of judgment Jesus enacts at some point in the end times (Matthew 25:31–32) takes place in this part of the passage. He places each person into one of two groups. These are described as the sheep, on His right hand, and the goats, on His left. Christ does not give details on how this will be accomplished in real time. It is difficult to imagine this happening with a planet fulfilled with people; however, Jesus does not seem to depict this as a parable or metaphor. This is a real judgment, and a real separation.Scholars dispute who, exactly, is subject to this judgment. The eternal fate of non-believers is declared at the great white throne, sometime after the millennium (Revelation 20:11–15) and just prior to the arrival of New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1–2). Believers have their eternal judgment, for rewards only, at the so-called "Bema seat" of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
How the judgment of sheep and goats fits into the calendar of end-times events is not entirely clear. Some interpreters believe this is a general description of the only two possible fates for each person. Others suggest the people here have survived the tribulation (Matthew 24:21–22) and are being judged to see who enters the millennial kingdom of Christ (Revelation 20:1–6).
Matthew 25:31–46 describes Jesus' epic judgment, to take place when He returns as King with His angels and takes His place on the throne. He will divide those judged into two groups: "sheep" and "goats." The sheep will be welcomed and praised for serving those in need. The goats will be sent away from Jesus to eternal fire and condemned for not serving those in need. This comes at the end of the Olivet Discourse, which began when disciples asked Jesus about the end days (Matthew 24:3). This passage is notoriously difficult to interpret, making it especially important to handle with caution. Though it is referred to as a "parable," thanks to the use of shepherding terms, the situation it describes seems to be very real.
Jesus uses two additional parables to illustrate a state of constant readiness for His return after He has gone. His followers should be working for Him while they wait. They must not be like the foolish young women who missed a wedding feast because they forgot oil for their lamps. They must be like the servants who doubled their harsh master's investments while He was away. Jesus concludes with a third descriptive passage, showing how He will judge between the righteous and evil when He returns as King.
