NOTES for Mat 25:31-46
Still, no teaching places the human being as high as Christ placed him, for if help given by us to anyone around us turns out to be help given to Him Himself, then here we see more than God's love for the human being. Here we rediscover the meaning of the long-known words that the Lord created us in His image and likeness, and even the fact that we constantly defile this image does not cancel the highest purpose He intended for us.
Here too we find an answer to those people who anxiously ask, "What will become of those who were far from faith but did good works?" Of course, none of us can answer with complete certainty the question of who will end up where. And yet, if the deeds really were good, those who did them will not be forgotten. For even without thinking of serving the Lord, they cared for Him. Correspondingly, those who did not give proper help to those around them will be asked according to their deeds, not according to adherence to theoretical positions.
It is interesting that if at the beginning of the parable the subject is the Son of Man, then afterward the story speaks of the King. Christ once again reveals to the disciples who He is, for by justice only the Lord is worthy to be King.