Matthew 25:46 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

Matthew 25:46 kjv

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 25:46 nkjv

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 25:46 niv

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Matthew 25:46 esv

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 25:46 nlt

"And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."

Matthew 25 46 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Dan 12:2	And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.	Old Testament parallel to two eternal destinies.
Mt 7:23	"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"	Departure for the unrighteous.
Mt 13:40-42	As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the fiery furnace...	Final separation and destruction of the wicked.
Mt 18:8	"If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire."	Emphasis on eternal fire as punishment.
Mt 22:13	Then the king said to the servants, "Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."	Illustrates the judgment's sorrow and darkness.
Mt 24:51	and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.	Fate of unfaithful servants.
Mk 9:43-48	where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’	Describes the unceasing nature of punishment.
Lk 13:27-28	"But He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out."	Expulsion from God's presence.
Lk 16:22-26	The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades... there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.	Separation and torment after death.
Jn 3:16	For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.	Basis for receiving eternal life through belief.
Jn 5:24	"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."	Present possession of eternal life and avoidance of judgment.
Jn 5:28-29	Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.	Resurrection to distinct eternal fates.
Jn 17:3	"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."	Defines eternal life as knowing God and Christ.
Rom 2:6-8	who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath...	Judgment according to deeds.
Rom 6:23	For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.	Contrast between spiritual death and eternal life.
2 Thes 1:9	These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.	Eternal punishment as banishment from God.
Ti 1:2	in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.	God's promise of eternal life.
Jude 1:7	as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.	"Eternal fire" example from history.
Rev 14:11	"And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image..."	Unending nature of torment.
Rev 20:10	The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.	Specific details of eternal torment for the wicked.
Rev 21:8	But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.	Those excluded from eternal life.
Rev 22:5	There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.	Description of eternal life in the New Heavens/Earth.

Matthew 25 verses

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Matthew 25 46 Meaning

Matthew 25:46 concludes Jesus' parable of the Sheep and the Goats, delivering a definitive statement about the two ultimate destinies of humanity after the final judgment: everlasting punishment for those who rejected Christ by neglecting the needy, and eternal life for the righteous who showed Christ-like compassion to others. It signifies a complete and irreversible separation between the judged based on their practical actions of love, which serve as evidence of their true spiritual state.

Matthew 25 46 Context

Matthew 25:46 is the culminating statement of the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, which is itself the conclusion of Jesus' Olivet Discourse (Matthew chapters 24-25). This discourse primarily concerns the signs of His coming, the end of the age, and the judgment. Chapters 24 and 25 transition from general prophetic warnings to specific parables that call for preparedness, faithfulness, and discerning living in anticipation of the Lord's return.

The parable immediately preceding verse 46, the Sheep and the Goats (Mt 25:31-45), vividly portrays a final global judgment where all nations are gathered before the Son of Man. He separates people into two distinct groups, much like a shepherd divides sheep from goats. The basis for this separation is their practical response to "the least of these brothers of mine"—acts of compassion, hospitality, and care (feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, sheltering the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned). Those who performed these acts are declared righteous and invited into the Kingdom, while those who neglected them are condemned to "eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Verse 46 thus serves as the stark and unequivocal summation of the everlasting destinies determined by this judgment, emphasizing the finality of the decision. This judgment is not presented as an opportunity for repentance but as a final rendering of consequences based on a lifetime of choices reflecting one's relationship with Christ.

Matthew 25 46 Word analysis

And these (kai houtoi - καὶ οὗτοι): Refers directly back to "the goats" or "those on His left hand" in the preceding judgment scene (Mt 25:33, 41), the ones who failed to minister to "the least of these." It points to a distinct, condemned group.
will go away (apelousontai - ἀπελεύσονται): A future tense verb indicating an inescapable and irreversible movement, a definitive departure. It highlights the finality and active separation in judgment.
into everlasting (eis aiōnion - εἰς αἰώνιον): Aiōnion (from aiōn) describes that which pertains to an age or ages. Here, it is commonly understood to mean "eternal" or "perpetual" in duration. Its precise meaning has been debated, but its parallel use for both punishment and life in the same verse strongly argues for equivalent duration. If the life is truly eternal, so is the punishment. It signifies an enduring quality beyond the constraints of finite time.
punishment (kolasin - κόλασιν): This Greek term literally means "pruning" or "chastisement" and can imply correction. However, in this eschatological context with aiōnion and other biblical descriptions of final judgment (e.g., "outer darkness," "fire," "torment"), it refers to retributive, destructive, and inescapable suffering rather than corrective discipline. It implies a fixed, permanent state of penalty, not remedial training.
but the righteous (hoi de dikaioi - οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι): Refers to "the sheep" or "those on His right hand" (Mt 25:33, 34). These are declared righteous not necessarily because of inherent sinless perfection, but because their genuine faith in Christ was evidenced by their active love and compassion for others.
into eternal (eis aiōnion - εἰς αἰώνιον): The exact same Greek word aiōnion used for "everlasting" punishment, reinforcing the equal and perpetual nature of both destinies.
life (zōēn - ζωὴν): More than mere existence, zōē refers to life in its fullest and most abundant sense—spiritual, vital, and real life that flows from God, in fellowship with Him. It is not just about length of time but about quality and state of being. This life begins now for believers and extends infinitely.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

"And these will go away into everlasting punishment": This phrase succinctly states the irrevocable fate of the condemned. "Everlasting punishment" underscores that their consequence is not temporary but unending, fitting the severity of rejecting Christ through a lack of love. It is an active removal to a perpetual state of punitive suffering.
"but the righteous into eternal life": This contrasting phrase details the glorious, unending destiny of the redeemed. The parallelism with the former clause ("everlasting punishment" / "eternal life" using the same Greek aiōnion) powerfully confirms the equivalent and enduring nature of both outcomes. "Eternal life" describes a perpetual existence characterized by joyful communion with God and all that is good, righteous, and true.

Matthew 25 46 Bonus section

Implications for Debate on Eternal Torment: The shared Greek term aiōnion is central to the theological debate on the nature and duration of hell. If one argues aiōnion means "age-long" and implies an end for punishment, consistency demands "eternal life" also be finite. Mainstream Christian theology rejects this due to the nature of God's life being infinite. Therefore, the equal application of aiōnion emphasizes eternal conscious punishment for the lost, parallel to eternal conscious enjoyment for the saved.
The Unconditional Nature of Finality: The "going away" is absolute and without return. There is no repentance or change of state implied after this judgment. This underscores the urgency of faith and obedience in this life.
Not Works-Based Salvation: While actions (feeding, clothing, visiting) are the basis of the judgment in the parable, these are presented as evidence or fruit of a genuine heart, not as the meritorious means to earn salvation. The "righteous" are those whose faith in the Son of Man expressed itself through compassionate action towards Him by ministering to His needy ones. Their works merely reveal their true relationship with Him.
Motivating Discipleship and Missions: This verse provides profound motivation for holy living, compassionate service, and urgent evangelism. Knowing there are only two eternal destinies fuels the Christian's desire to share the Gospel and to live out the love of Christ in tangible ways.

Matthew 25 46 Commentary

Matthew 25:46 is arguably one of the Bible's clearest and most potent declarations on final destinies. It concludes a pivotal segment of Jesus' teaching on His return and judgment, underscoring the irreversible separation of humanity into two ultimate groups. The primary message is the unyielding, co-extensive nature of both "everlasting punishment" and "eternal life." The use of the same Greek adjective aiōnion for both strongly asserts that if eternal life is unending in duration, so is the punishment.

This verse shatters any notion of universalism (all will eventually be saved), annihilationism (the wicked are utterly destroyed and cease to exist), or purgatory (temporary suffering for purification after death), by presenting two distinct, permanent, and contrasting fates. The basis for these fates, as outlined in the Sheep and Goats parable, is deeply rooted in how one's faith manifests in practical love towards Christ's "least." While salvation is by grace through faith, true faith invariably produces the fruit of love and obedience. This verse therefore powerfully calls believers to genuine, compassionate living as evidence of their transformed hearts, recognizing that eternal destinies are fixed, unchangeable, and determined by one's relationship with Christ, demonstrated through active righteousness. It serves as both a comfort for the righteous and a stark warning for the unrepentant.