Matthew 25:46 (KJV)

What does Matthew 25:46 mean?

Matthew 25:46 describes a final separation between two groups: those who face “everlasting punishment” and those who receive “life eternal.” According to the King James Version, Jesus says that the unrighteous will go away to lasting punishment, while the righteous will enter into eternal life.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to His disciples as He finishes the parable of the sheep and the goats, which pictures a future judgment. The verse sums up the outcome for each group after their deeds have been weighed, highlighting a permanent and unchanging result for both. The language stresses the seriousness and finality of the choices made in life.

The Greek behind Matthew 25:46

• αἰώνιος (aiōnios, “everlasting”/“eternal”): This word is used for both “everlasting punishment” and “life eternal,” showing that the duration described for both groups is the same—unending or pertaining to an age without end.
• κόλασις (kolasis, “punishment”): This Greek term often refers to corrective or penal punishment, not just suffering, emphasizing the idea of a consequence or penalty.
• δίκαιος (dikaios, “righteous”): This word points to those who are upright or just, not simply by outward acts but in their standing or character.

Why Matthew 25:46 matters

• Matthew 25:46 clarifies that both the punishment and the life described are equally lasting, countering any idea that one is temporary while the other is permanent.
• The verse draws a sharp line between two destinies based on righteousness, tying the outcome directly to the preceding parable’s focus on how people treat others.
• This verse is a key summary statement in Jesus’ teaching about judgment, making the stakes of the choices described in the parable unmistakably clear.