Matthew 25:41 kjv
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 25:41 nkjv
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 25:41 niv
"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.
Matthew 25:41 esv
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew 25:41 nlt
"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
Matthew 25 41 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 7:23 | "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'" | Strong rejection/separation. |
| Lk 13:27 | "But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!'" | Rejection from the Lord. |
| Rev 20:15 | "And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." | Lake of fire as final destination. |
| Matt 13:40-42 | "So it will be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels... and throw them into the fiery furnace." | Final separation and fiery judgment. |
| John 5:28-29 | "...all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." | Resurrection for judgment/condemnation. |
| Mark 9:43, 48 | "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off... into hell, into the unquenchable fire." | Unquenchable fire of Gehenna. |
| Jude 1:7 | "...Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire." | Eternal fire as punishment. |
| Rev 14:10-11 | "...he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever..." | Eternal torment with fire. |
| 2 Thes 1:9 | "They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord..." | Eternal destruction and separation. |
| Isa 33:14 | "The sinners in Zion are terrified... 'Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?'" | Old Testament imagery of consuming, everlasting fire. |
| Dan 12:2 | "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." | Everlasting contempt/punishment. |
| Psa 9:17 | "The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God." | Wicked ending in death/underworld. |
| Gal 3:10 | "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.'" | The basis of being "cursed" related to sin. |
| Gen 3:14-15 | "The Lord God said to the serpent, 'Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock...'" | Beginning of a curse for rebellion. |
| 2 Pet 2:4 | "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;" | Angels destined for judgment/darkness. |
| Jude 1:6 | "And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—" | Rebellious angels reserved for eternal chains. |
| Rev 12:9 | "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." | Devil and angels cast down. |
| Isa 14:12-15 | "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!... But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit." | The fall of Lucifer (Satan). |
| Ezek 28:12-19 | Describes the fall of the King of Tyre, often seen as symbolic of Satan's fall from his perfect state. | Symbolic fall of a powerful, proud entity. |
| Matt 24:51 | "...and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." | Weeping and gnashing of teeth, indicating suffering. |
Matthew 25 verses
Matthew 25 41 Meaning
This verse details the solemn declaration by the King, Jesus Christ, to those identified as goats (Matt 25:33) at the final judgment. It is a pronouncement of definitive separation and condemnation, directing them away from His presence into eternal punishment. This ultimate destination, characterized as "eternal fire," was not originally created for humanity, but specifically prepared for the Devil and his rebellious angels. The implication for humanity is that they partake in this judgment because their actions demonstrated a rejection of the King and His compassionate ways.
Matthew 25 41 Context
Matthew 25:41 is situated within the broader context of Jesus' eschatological discourse, specifically the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25), where He speaks about the end times, His second coming, and the final judgment. It immediately follows the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matt 25:31-46), which describes the separation of humanity based on how they treated "the least of these brothers of Mine." The verse itself is the direct pronouncement of condemnation to those on the King's left, representing those who failed to demonstrate genuine love and compassion through their actions towards Him embodied in His followers. This entire chapter, along with the preceding parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents, underscores themes of vigilance, responsibility, and the criteria for entry into the Kingdom versus eternal condemnation. Historically and culturally, the Jewish audience was familiar with concepts of divine judgment and separation between righteous and wicked, but Jesus introduces unique details about the nature of this final separation and the King's identification with suffering humanity.
Matthew 25 41 Word analysis
- Then (Τότε - Tote): Indicates a specific, decisive point in time; emphasizes the certainty and definitiveness of the event. This is the moment of ultimate decision.
- he will say (ἐρεῖ - erei): Future tense of "to say," highlighting a firm and irrevocable decree from the Judge, Jesus Christ, acting as King. It's a statement of absolute authority.
- to those on his left (τοῖς ἐξ εὐωνύμων - tois ex euōnymōn): Literally "to those from the left." In many cultures, the left side symbolized disfavor, lower status, or condemnation, while the right (Matt 25:34) symbolized favor and blessing. This phrase visually and conceptually represents those rejected and deemed unrighteous.
- Depart (πορεύεσθε - poreuesthe): An imperative command, meaning "go away," "leave." It conveys a forced, irrevocable banishment, a complete severing of ties and expulsion from His presence.
- from me (ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ - ap' emou): "From me," directly emphasizing the profound and ultimate separation from Jesus Himself. This is the gravest aspect of punishment – the absence of Christ's presence, goodness, and blessing.
- you who are cursed (οἱ κατηραμένοι - hoi katēramenoi): Passive perfect participle, meaning "the ones having been cursed" or "already under a curse." This implies a state of being already in judgment due to their spiritual condition, resulting from their life's choices. It signifies divine displeasure and the absence of divine favor. This stands in direct contrast to "blessed" (Matt 25:34).
- into the eternal fire (εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον - eis to pyr to aiōnion):
- eternal (αἰώνιον - aiōnnion): This significant Greek word here unequivocally points to a duration that is unending, perpetual, and without cessation. It carries the same force and duration as "eternal life" (Matt 25:46). The meaning emphasizes the perpetual nature of this state, not merely a long duration but an endless existence.
- fire (πῦρ - pyr): A common biblical symbol for purification, judgment, and destruction. Here, it denotes punishment, suffering, and intense separation from God. It's often associated with Gehenna, a valley outside Jerusalem where refuse was burned, signifying utter destruction and rejection.
- prepared (τὸ ἡτοιμασμένον - to hētoimasmenon): Perfect passive participle, meaning "that which has been prepared." This signifies a pre-ordained destiny, highlighting divine foreknowledge and intentionality. It also uniquely distinguishes the recipients of this fire.
- for the devil and his angels (τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ - tō diabolō kai tois angelois autou): Crucially, the fire was not originally prepared for humanity, but for Satan (the "slanderer," "accuser") and the demonic forces that rebelled with him against God. Humanity's presence there is a consequence of aligning themselves with the spiritual rebellion and rejection of Christ's ways.
Matthew 25 41 Bonus section
This verse firmly establishes that hell, or the "eternal fire," is a real, literal, and unending destination for the unrighteous, a counterpoint to universalist views. It refutes any notion that God's love somehow overrides His justice, or that all will eventually be reconciled regardless of their rejection of Him. Furthermore, the explicit statement that it was "prepared for the devil and his angels" demonstrates that eternal punishment for humanity is not God's original or preferred outcome for His creation, but a grim consequence of humanity's free choice to rebel or passively reject Him by neglecting His commands for loving service. The verdict is tied directly to the individuals' character, specifically their practical love and compassion, which serves as visible proof of their heart's allegiance—whether they truly knew Christ or not (cf. Matt 7:21-23). The passage shows that judgment will be thorough and precise.
Matthew 25 41 Commentary
Matthew 25:41 delivers a stark and sobering message from Jesus Christ about the reality of final judgment and eternal consequence. It is a moment of divine separation where the King, acting as the ultimate Judge, issues a permanent decree. The phrase "Depart from me" underlines the core of condemnation: an absolute and eternal severing from the presence and blessings of God, which is the most terrifying aspect for a soul. These individuals are "cursed," meaning they are already under divine disapproval due to their intrinsic state and actions, or lack thereof, revealed throughout their lives. The destination is the "eternal fire," characterized by its unending nature, reflecting the perpetuity of "eternal life" mentioned elsewhere in the discourse. A pivotal insight is that this "eternal fire" was specifically "prepared for the devil and his angels." This highlights God's perfect justice: the ultimate punishment was designated for the initial cosmic rebels. Humanity enters this fate not because it was God’s original intention for them, but because their rejection of Christ, evinced by their refusal to serve "the least of these," ultimately aligns them with the kingdom of darkness rather than the kingdom of light. The verse emphasizes the absolute seriousness of life's choices and the unwavering justice of God.