The Plot to Kill Jesus and His Last Supper

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospel accounts:

(Matthew 26:1) And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said to His disciples, 

In the last chapter, Jesus had been telling His disciples all about His second coming and the final judgment.  He continued speaking to them:

(2) "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified."

Jesus told His disciples something they surely knew, that the Feast of the Passover was coming in two days.  He then matter-of-factly added something they surely did not know, that He was at that time to be betrayed to be crucified.  They may have remembered that Christ had told them that He would suffer many things by the priests, scribes, and elders, who would deliver Him up to the Gentiles to be crucified, but they surely had no idea of the timing and that it was coming so soon.

(3) Then assembled together the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people, to the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. 

About that same time, exactly two days before the Passover, as confirmed in Mark 14:1, the chief priests, the scribes of the law, and the elders of the people who were the civil magistrates, assembled together, bringing together ecclesiastics and government.  Evidently, all these together made up the Sanhedrin, the great council that had the supreme authority, both in civil and ecclesiastical affairs.  They met at the palace of the high priest, Caiaphas.  One would suspect that they met at Caiaphas's palace rather than a more public regular meeting place of the Sanhedrin because they wanted to meet privately.

(4) And consulted that they might take Jesus subtlety and kill Him.

This Sanhedrin council, meeting privately, deliberated about how they might take Jesus by trick or deceit and have Him killed.

(5) But they said, "Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people."

The council agreed that they should not do this thing on the Passover because they feared an uproar among the people.  However, God's plan was to have the perfect Lamb sacrifice publicly offered up on the Passover.

(6) Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, (7) There came to Him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on His head as He sat.

Jesus, being in Bethany, a place about two miles from Jerusalem, came to be in the house of Simon the leper.  This Simon was so called to distinguish him from other Simons, and had most likely been healed of the disease by Jesus, but still retained the name.  While there, a woman came to Jesus with an alabaster box of some very precious ointment and poured it on His head.  This would have been an act of love and respect for our Lord Jesus Christ, probably delightfully fragrant and refreshing to His head.  More than that, she surely must have had faith that He was God's anointed, and by her act she therefore anointed Him her Lord.

(8) But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, "To what purpose is this waste?"

When Jesus's disciples witnessed this act, at least some of them were very indignant at the apparent waste.  We learn later from the account in John 12:4-6 that it was Judas Iscariot who was the chief complainer among them.

(9) "For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."

The disciples continued with their point about "this waste" of precious ointment, that it could have been sold and the money given to the poor.  The account in John told us these were the words of Judas, although from verse 8 above, it seems that other disciples saw it as a waste, as well.

(10) When Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me."

When Jesus became aware of the disciples' indignation of the woman's act, He asked why they troubled her; she had done a beautiful thing for her Lord.  What a lesson there is in this!  We must not rashly judge the motives of another.  There was no crime in what the woman did, and only God knows the motives of the heart in a situation like this.  

(11) "For you have the poor always with you, but Me you have not always."

Once again, Jesus knew the woman's heart, and with the foreboding premonition of His death, she did a good thing for Him in preparing Him for burial.  There is another lesson in this.  We mustn't judge a person's motives, but also Jesus said the poor would be with them always, so there would always be opportunities to help them.  However, He would not always be with them.  This tells me that Jesus Himself is more important than all the good works we do in His name.  Yes, whenever we do something for the least of men, we do it for Jesus, but it must never be at the expense of Jesus.  I think of the way people think our government must provide for the poor, and in itself, that is not a bad thing.  However, the government doesn't want any part of God in it.  It seeks to separate God from the public square, ban Him, actually.  But He is the most important.  He comes first, and because of our love for Him, we give willingly to the poor.

(12) "For in that she has poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial."

Indeed, Jesus said that the woman had done this for His burial.  She was surely under the influence of the Holy Spirit to do this, and it served as confirmation to His disciples of His coming death.

(13) "Verily, I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, also shall this, what this woman has done, be told as a memorial to her."

Jesus told His disciples that what this woman had done for Him would be forever part of Gospel history, and here we are reading about it this day.  What a beautiful testimony that such a seemingly small act would forever be remembered by Christians!

(14) Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, (15) And said, "What will you give me, and I will deliver Him to you?" And they pledged to him thirty pieces of silver.

It is interesting to note that Judas went to the chief priests immediately after the incident with the woman which he considered waste.  It is obvious he was very concerned about money.  He now asked the chief priests what they would give him to deliver Jesus to them.  They agreed upon thirty pieces of silver.  It is also shocking to note that it was Judas who approached them.  They did not seek him out and make him an offer he couldn't refuse.  He himself went willingly to the chief priests to betray Jesus for money.  In doing this, we witness the heart of Judas in action.

(16) And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

From then on, Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus for that thirty pieces of silver.

(17) Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

There were seven of these days that the Jews did not eat leavened bread, in commemoration of the time they fled Egypt so quickly that they had no time to leaven their dough.  On this first day the Passover lamb was to be killed in the afternoon and eaten that evening.  According to the account in Luke, these disciples came to Jesus asking where to prepare to eat the Passover after He had given the order to go and prepare it.  It appears also from Luke that it was Peter and John who may have asked the question where they should go, as Jesus sent those two to prepare.

(18) And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Master says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples."'"

The account in Mark says that Jesus better described the man to whom they were to go to, a man bearing a pitcher of water.  They were to follow him into the house to which he carried the pitcher.  Also according to other accounts, the certain man with whom they were to converse was the master of the house, not the servant they had followed.  They were to tell him that their Master said His time was at hand and that He and His disciples would keep the Passover at his house.  His "time" most likely meant the time of His suffering, not the Passover.  I read that the Greeks most often used the original word used here, "kairos," to mean a time of affliction or calamity.  This man was either well acquainted with Jesus and His disciples, or this was arranged under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

(19) And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them, and they made ready the Passover.

The disciples did just as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover.  That would have meant procuring a lamb, having it killed, and then roasted.

(20) Now when the evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.

When the evening came, after the Passover had been prepared, and likely after the Passover lamb had been eaten or at least some of it, as it was usually eaten standing and in haste, as it would have been on that first great Passover, Jesus sat down with His twelve disciples.  Then again, Jesus being the true Passover Lamb in this case, perhaps the usual laws were suspended in this case.

(21) And as they ate, He said, "Verily I say to you, that one of you shall betray Me."

While they ate, Jesus told the disciples that one of the twelve sitting with them would betray Him, delivering Him into the hands of the chief priests.  That had to have been a bit of a shock to Judas, who had already betrayed Jesus with his agreement to deliver Him up.

(22) And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and every one of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?"

Isn't it interesting that even the eleven innocent disciples began to question themselves?  They had no idea how the betrayal would come, and were so sorrowful that it would come at all; and to be at the hands of one of them was even more distressing.

(23) And He answered and said, "He who dips his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me."

The Jews used a bitter sauce with their Passover meal said to remind them of their bitter bondage in Egypt.  There were probably several dishes around the table, into which those sitting closest to a particular one, might dip at the same time.  Jesus said that the one who dipped with Him was the one who would betray Him.

(24) "The Son of man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."

Jesus said He would be going through what had been planned, prophesied, and written about Him, but He pitied the man who of his own choice betrayed Jesus.  He said it would have been better for that man if he had never been born!  Judas was not pre-destined to do this; he indeed had a choice.  God, being omniscient, knew that it would be Judas who would ultimately betray Him, so He used him to fulfill His purpose, but He did not do it against Judas's will.  Of that, you can be sure!  God is all-good and just, and would never force anyone against his will.

(25) Then Judas who betrayed Him, answered and said, "Master, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said."

Judas, of course, knew he was the one who was betraying Christ, but he probably asked to be just like all the other disciples who asked, so he would not bring suspicion to himself by remaining silent.  Jesus indeed told him it was just as he said, it was him.  I'm sure it was with lament and sorrow that Jesus admitted it was Judas, His own disciple, who betrayed Him.  I would imagine if Judas had repented and asked for forgiveness at this point, it would have been granted him, and another way would have been provided to carry out what must take place.  However, it seems he must have quietly asked the Lord if it was him, because it appears the disciples did not suspect him in later events.  He was still being secretive, although he now knew that Jesus knew, as he should have guessed all along that He would know.

(26) As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

They had been eating the Passover supper and lamb, so now Christ began a new supper, if you will, the Last Supper.  Before it was the Passover lamb that represented the departure from Egypt after the angel of death had passed over the houses of the Israelites who had done what God told them to do.  Now Jesus took the bread, asked a blessing over it, broke it, and gave some to each of His disciples, telling them to eat it for this bread represented His body.  He was now about to fulfill God's purpose as the ultimate Passover Lamb of God.

(27) And He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "You all drink of it. (28) For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

Jesus then took the cup of wine and gave it to each of His disciples, instructing that they all drink of the cup, for it represented His blood and that of a new covenant.  The old testament or covenant called for the sprinkling of the blood of bulls, and was called the blood of the covenant (Exodus 24:8).  This new covenant, with Christ's precious blood that was soon to be sacrificed and shed for the remission of sins, was now being instituted, or fulfilled, which is the more precise term.  This wasn't a new covenant that did away with the old, for Jesus did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).  But this new covenant provided the ultimate perfect blood sacrifice to end all others.

(29) "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Jesus, indicating His time with them was very short, told His disciples He would not again drink wine with them until the time when He would drink wine of an entirely different kind in His Father's kingdom, and they would also be there to partake of it.

As this is a very long chapter, I will end this post here, at the end of the Last Supper with Christ's institution of Communion, which He said in Luke 22:19, to do in remembrance of Him.  It was in remembrance of His death, His body and blood, given in sacrifice to all who would partake of it, by those who would consecrate their souls to be in communion with Him and in service to Him.  Believers spiritually feed on Christ's body and blood by faith, which is the hand and mouth of the soul.  

Two Parables About the Kingdom of Heaven and Final Judgment

Continuing a Bible study of the gospel accounts:

(Matthew 25:1) "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom."

At the end of the last chapter Jesus had been telling His disciples to be ready for His second coming, but that no one would know the exact day or hour He would return.  He now began a parable about ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom who would be coming.  This parable He likened to the kingdom of heaven.  The ten virgins were bridesmaids who went to meet the groom to take him to his bride.  The bridegroom represents the coming Messiah, and the virgins or bridesmaids represent the Christian church.  The coming of Christ to receive His people to Himself is often represented as a marriage, the church being represented as His bride.

(2) "And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) They who were foolish took their lamps but took no oil with them. (4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps."

Jesus called five of the virgins wise and five of them foolish.  The ones He called foolish took their lamps, but they took no extra oil with them.  The wise virgins took extra oil in containers along with their lamps.  The five foolish virgins probably expected that the bridegroom would come immediately; they therefore made no provision for any delay. The wise virgins knew that the time of His coming was uncertain, and they therefore prepared themselves with extra oil.  Of course, this represents how Christians should be vigilant and look for their coming Messiah, but knowing not when He will come, should also be ready at all times.

(5) "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."

The bridegroom took longer to arrive than they had expected, and while waiting, all the virgins slept.  Just as the bridegroom tarried, so does Christ.  Life goes on and all sleep, but some are ready for His coming at any unexpected time, and some are not.

(6) "And at midnight there was a cry made, 'Behold, the bridegroom comes; go out to meet him!'"

At midnight, when least expected, when all were asleep, the bridegroom came "as a thief in the night" (2 Peter 3:10).  All were called to go meet him.

(7) "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps."

Then all the virgins got up and prepared their lamps to go out and meet the bridegroom.

(8) "And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.'"

The foolish virgins who had not been prepared with extra oil found their lamps had completely gone out, and asked for oil from the wise virgins who had prepared.

(9) "But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there not be enough for us and you, but go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves.'"

The wise virgins refused, saying that there would not be enough oil for them all.  They suggest that they go quickly to buy their own oil.  These virgins represent Christians who would have been companions, and there would have been a time when they would have helped one another.  But now the time was past.  The bridegroom, Christ, was there, and He was the most important!  The wise virgins or Christians are spiritually ready to meet Christ, but the foolish are not.  Spiritual faith and readiness are not something that can be shared; one must have his own, so the wise virgins gave the only advice they could, to hurry and get their own, although in reality, it was too late.

(10) "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they who were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut."

While the foolish virgins went out to buy more oil, to try to fully ready themselves, the bridegroom came and all the ready virgins went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.  When all the truly faithful Christians are received into heaven, the door will be closed to all others.  It will be too late to prepare once Christ has come and taken His bride.

(11) Afterward the other virgins came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' (12) But he answered and said, 'Verily, I say to you, I do not know you.'"

The foolish virgins returned then ready, crying desperately to get into the wedding feast.  However, the bridegroom answered that he did not know them, as Christ will not acknowledge mere externally professing Christians who actually have no true faith in and love for their Lord.

(13) "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming."

The moral of Jesus's story was, of course, to always watch for and be ready for the day when He would return.  

(14) "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods."

Jesus began another parable to describe what the kingdom of heaven was like.  He told of a man who was going to travel to a faraway land, and called his servants to him to put all his goods into their hands while he was away.  This represents God who has left His children in charge of His church while He is away.

(15) "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his abilities; and immediately he took his journey."

Apparently, the man also left his money in the hands of his servants.  A talent was the largest unit of measurement of weight, equal to about 75 pounds.  A talent measured precious metals, usually gold or silver, so it was a large amount of money he left in the hands of his servants.  He left different amounts to each of his three servants, depending upon their abilities.  This represents God's people He brought into this world with different talents or spiritual gifts, some born in better places with better opportunities than others.  God left us here with His word and the gifts He gave us, as the man left his servants and took his journey to a faraway land.

(16) "Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made five other talents."

The servant who had received the five talents went and traded or invested it and made five more talents, doubling his master's money.  This represents the Christian who takes the many gifts he has been given by his Father in heaven and invests them in good works according to the will of God.

(17) "And likewise he who had received two also gained another two."

Likewise, the servant who had received two talents, representing another child of God who may not have had as many gifts or opportunities to do good, but still doubled his master's money.

(18) "But he who had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money."

The servant who had received just one talent did nothing with the talent, but just buried it.  This represents the person who may have little abilities and little opportunity to do good works, and uses that as an excuse to do nothing.  However, any situation in which God has placed us is a place where we may do good according to His will.  I love this statement by Albert Barnes in his Notes on the Bible, "A humble Christian, by his life, example, and conversation, may often do much more good than 'is' done by those in more elevated stations and with far greater gifts."

(19) "After a long time, the lord of those servants came and settled with them."

This, of course, represents the return of our Lord or our returning to Him upon death when we give an account for what we have done with the gifts and opportunities He gave us.

(20) "And so he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; behold, I have gained besides them, five talents more.'"

The servant who had been given five talents came before his lord with those and another five talents he had gained for him.  It appears this servant came cheerfully and confidently to his master to give his account, just as we may come before our Lord unashamed and with boldness when we are covered with the pure white cloak of Jesus covering our sins (1 John 4:17, 2 John 2:28).

(21) "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter into the joy of your lord.'"

The master of the household commended this servant on a job well done, and proclaimed that since he had been so faithful in a few things, he would make him a ruler over many more things, and invited him to share in the pleasures and enjoyments of his palace with him.  This represents the Christian servant who took the gifts and opportunities given to him by the Lord and used them to grow the kingdom of God on earth.  That good and faithful servant will be promoted to great honors in heaven, and be a partaker of the joy of his Lord in heaven.  However, this is not to be understood as a works based system, that the one with the most good works gets the best prize.  More is expected of the person who has received more gifts and opportunities and even understanding and knowledge of the Lord.  We are to build on and share our faith where we are planted in the world in whatever capacity we may have been given.

(22) "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.'"

The servant who had received two talents also came before his lord to tell him he had taken the two talents his lord had given him and gained two additional talents.

(23) "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; 'You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter into the joy of your lord.'"

Note that the second servant who had been given less received the same commendation and rewards, for he had taken what he had been given, though less than what was given to the first servant, and multiplied it.

(24) "Then he who had received one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strewn. (25) And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth; lo, you have what is yours.'"

The third servant in his account for himself blamed his lord for his lack of service.  He said he knew him to be a hard man, reaping benefits where he had not sown.  This is a perfect example of the person who sees God as angry and vengeful, expecting more from His people than He has given them.  He said he was afraid of his lord and went and hid his talent in the ground, and now brought it back to his lord.  This represents the sinner who never took the time to really know his Lord, and just gave up his life as it had been given him with nothing of spiritual faith and growth to show for it.

(26) "His lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not strewn, (27) You ought to have therefore put my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received my own with interest.'"

His lord called this last servant wicked and lazy.  So he thought his master to be one who reaped where he had not sown and gathered where he had not scattered?  Well then, that servant should have, at the very least, put his talent in the bank and at least gained a little interest if he "knew" that his lord expected to gain extra.  This is the person who took no pains to know Jesus and neglected the gifts that were in him; he buried his spiritual gifts deep within himself.  It is wickedness to throw away God's gifts, and when not filled with the Holy Spirit, evil spirits move in.  

(28) "Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. (29) For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has shall be taken away."

The lord of the household told his servants to take the talent from the lazy servant and give it to the one who had ten talents.  This is just as God will do if one will not do according to His will; He will give the means to someone else to do it, and that person will have more than what he had; he will have abundance said Jesus.

(30) "And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The unprofitable servant was to be cast out and he would be full of anguish.  Just for being unprofitable?  He didn't actively do anything wicked.  However, he was an unproductive servant, and of no use to his master.  Christ's Christian servants on earth are to be productive.  As was said before, that doesn't mean that every Christian must be active in missions on the other side of the world, but we can have a ministry right where we are planted.  We can share Christ's love and do good whenever it is in our power to do so.  When we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, we will act in love, for God is love.

(31) "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His glory."

Jesus now began to describe the time He would come again to judge the world.  He would come in glory with His holy angels all about Him, and He would sit on His throne.

(32) "And before Him will be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats."

Imagine all people of all nations of the world gathered before Jesus on His throne!  We don't know exactly how this will be done, but you can be sure it will be accomplished!  Christ, the judge, will then separate the wheat from the tares, or the sheep from the goats.

(33) "And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left."

Christ's sheep, His true followers, He will place on His right, the place of honor; and the goats, the wicked, will be placed on His left, denoting dishonor and condemnation.

(34) "Then shall the King say to them on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'"

The Lord Jesus, the King of all the universe, will call His followers blessed by His Father and invite them to be received as children of God and receive their inheritance in the kingdom of God, as He had planned for His people since the beginning of the world.

(35) "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in. (36) Naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."

Jesus will commend His people for all the loving deeds they did in the world, feeding the hungry, taking people in, providing for the poor, and visiting the sick and incarcerated.  Every loving act done for another person Jesus considers done for Himself.

(37) "Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and fed You, or thirsty, and gave You drink?' (38) 'When did we see You a stranger and took You in, or naked and clothed You?' (39) 'Or when did we see You sick or in prison, and came to You?'"

Those righteous people (righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ) whom Christ brings into His kingdom, will wonder when they did those good deeds to Him, indicating humility and a feeling that their poor acts of kindness come so far short of what they should have been that they have no claim to praise or reward.  However, God is love, and He very much views acts of love as worthy of praise.

(40) "And the King shall answer and say to them, 'Verily, I say to you, inasmuch as you have done to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done to Me.'"

Christ will indeed explain to them that whenever they did any act of kindness to even the very least among them, He considered that act done to Him.

(41) "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'"

Jesus will also speak to those on His left hand, calling them cursed for having sinned against God and never showing repentance and making Jesus the Lord of their lives, therefore covering their sins.  He will tell them to depart from Him, and condemn them into the everlasting fire that had been long before prepared for Satan and his demons.  We can deduce from this that hell was never meant for human souls.  However, those who choose to serve Satan rather than God, will be counted as Satan's demons.

(42) "For I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink. (43) I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me."

The reason Jesus will give for telling those on His left to depart from Him into the everlasting fire is because they never did any loving acts for Him; in doing those loving acts for the least of folks, they would have been doing them for His poor brethren.  This is not to suggest that just by doing good works may a person get into heaven.  Back in Matthew 7:23, Jesus said He would tell some who claimed they had done good works in His name to depart from Him as He never knew them.  He did not intimately know them as their Lord and Savior.  Jesus knows the heart, and He knows who performs acts of true love and who doesn't.

(44) "Then they also shall answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?'"

Just as the righteous did not recognize their good deeds, it seems the wicked won't recognize their deeds either.  Surely, even some of the wicked would have ministered to Jesus if they had known it was Him!

(45) "Then He shall answer them, saying, 'Verily, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do to one of the least of these, you did not do to Me.'"

Jesus will answer those on His left who ask when they failed to minister to Him, that because they never did a loving act for the least of His brethren on earth, they failed to do it for Him.

(46) "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Jesus stated that those souls on His left would go into everlasting punishment, represented by eternal hellfire.  Those righteous souls would have eternal life with Him.  We must remember that we are righteous only because Jesus has covered and removed our sins with the atonement that is only found in His precious blood.  It is then that we are able to do selfless acts of love for those less fortunate than we are, because He first loved us, and we do those things because of the love of God within us (1 John 4:19-21).  For those universalists and others who think that a loving God would never so severely punish His people, I personally don't see it as an action of punishing.  We have all sinned and none of us are righteous (Romans 3:10) and able to stand in the presence of God.  However, because of the love and mercy He had for us, God took on human form in the body of Jesus and came to earth to provide the ultimate blood sacrifice and atonement for our sins.  He lovingly offers this gift of salvation to anyone who will take it.  However, He does not force us to accept it.  If we refuse, then He simply turns away from us as we have suggested by our actions we want.  When God turns away from us and does not take us with Him into everlasting life in heaven, then there is no place else to go but into the pits of hell, and that is a self-inflicted severe punishment.