Judgment Day Will Be a Happy Day

Second Sunday of End Time – Last Judgment

Then the Lord will appear in glory
Then the shepherd will separate his disciples from their enemies
Then the Judge will pronounce a gracious verdict
Then the King will take his disciples to reign with him

SERMON TEXT: Matthew 25:31–46 (EHV)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 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. For I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was lacking clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “The King will answer them, ‘Amen I tell you: Just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire, which is prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you did not give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you did not give me anything to drink. I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, lacking clothes and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not take care of me.’ “Then they will also answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or lacking clothes or sick or in prison and did not serve you?’ “At that time he will answer them, ‘Amen I tell you: Just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ And they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Bible Readings

FIRST LESSON: Daniel 7:9-10 (EHV)

I continued to watch until thrones were set up,
and the Ancient of Days was seated.
His clothes were white as snow,
and the hair on his head was like pure wool.
His throne was flames of fire.
Its wheels were burning fire.
A river of fire flowed out from his presence.
Thousands upon thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated, and books were opened

SECOND LESSON: Romans 2:2–11 (EHV)

And we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Are you thinking that you will escape God’s judgment, you who judge those who do such things and then do the same things yourself? Or do you have so little regard for his rich kindness, his restraint, and his patience, that you ignore the fact that the purpose of God’s kindness is to lead you to repentance? As a result of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God will reveal his righteous judgment. God “will repay each person according to what he has done”—eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality by persisting in doing what is good, but furious anger to those who out of selfish ambition are disobeying what is true and obeying what is wrong. There will be trouble and distress for the soul of every person who does what is evil—for the Jew first and for the Greek—but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good—for the Jew first and for the Greek. For God does not show favoritism.

VERSE OF THE DAY: Matthew 24:42 RSV

Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

GOSPEL: Matthew 25:31–46 (EHV)

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