Matthew 13:49
So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The angels don't just separate the wicked from the righteous; they actively "sever" them out from among the righteous. This means the separation is a deliberate act of removal, highlighting that the wicked, even when mixed within the community of faith, are fundamentally distinct and will be ultimately expelled.
Jesus has just finished a series of parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, including the parable of the net that catches both good and bad fish. This verse serves as the explanation for that final parable, directly stating that just as the net's contents are separated at the end, so too will people be separated at the end of the age. This separation, performed by angels, signifies the ultimate judgment and sorting of the wicked from the righteous.
We often think of angels as gentle messengers or protectors. But what does Scripture say about their role in the final judgment?
Jesus uses the imagery of a net cast into the sea to describe the kingdom of heaven. This net gathers both good and bad fish, symbolizing the mixture of people within the visible church.
At the 'end of the age,' a crucial separation occurs. This isn't a human effort but a divine command executed by angels. As Jesus states, 'The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous.' These angels are not mere observers; they are active participants, carrying out God's final judgment with perfect precision. They are agents of divine order, fulfilling God's decree to bring His kingdom to its perfect state.
The world we live in is full of people. Some share our faith, while others don't. Will it always be this way?
Jesus' parables consistently highlight a future, definitive separation. In Matthew 13, the imagery shifts from the 'hidden treasure' and 'valuable pearl' (emphasizing the immense worth of the kingdom) to the 'net' and its eventual sorting.
Our verse, Matthew 13:49, brings this separation into sharp focus. It's not just about a future state but an active process: 'separate the evil from the righteous.' This division is absolute and eternal. Those who are 'wicked' (often described as morally corrupt or unrighteous) will be fundamentally distinct from those who are 'righteous' (those who are declared right with God). This isn't a subtle difference; it's a complete divergence, impacting their eternal destiny.
What does it truly mean to be 'righteous' in God's eyes? Is it about being a 'good person' or something more profound?
The separation described in Matthew 13:49 contrasts the 'evil' with the 'righteous.' This isn't merely about outward actions, though behavior flows from the heart. The concept of righteousness in Scripture goes deeper.
It speaks to a state of being right with God. In the Old Testament, righteousness was often demonstrated through obedience to God's law. However, in the New Testament, especially in Paul's writings and Jesus' teachings, true righteousness is often imputed – given by God through faith in Christ. Those who are 'righteous' in this ultimate sense have been declared right with God because of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. They are those whom God acknowledges as His own, set apart for Him. The 'evil,' conversely, remain in their state of separation from God.
Understand the original words
synteleia tou aiōnos · Greek Noun phrase
The final consummation of history when Christ returns, marked by divine judgment and the transition into the eternal state. It signals the close of the current era of grace and the commencement of God's final separation of the just and the unjust.
angelos · Greek Noun
Heavenly beings who act as God’s messengers and agents of His sovereign will. In the context of judgment, they serve as the executors of God’s decree, carrying out the separation of the righteous from the wicked.
ponēros · Greek Adjective
Those who are morally corrupt, wicked, or opposed to God. In Scripture, it describes the state of humanity apart from God’s redemptive work, characterized by rebellion and defiance against His law.
This Old Testament passage directly prophesies the future resurrection and judgment, echoing the separation of the righteous and wicked described in Matthew 13:49.
Matthew 25:31-33Jesus describes the final judgment in similar imagery, with the Son of Man separating people like a shepherd separating sheep from goats, highlighting the ultimate and distinct destinies of the righteous and the wicked.
John 5:28-29This passage speaks of a future resurrection for both life and condemnation, reinforcing the idea that a definitive separation and judgment will occur for all humanity.
1 Corinthians 15:23-26Paul describes Christ's return as the time when order will be fully established, with enemies (representing the wicked) being put under His feet, aligning with the concept of final separation and judgment.
Revelation 20:11-15This book of Revelation vividly portrays the final judgment where people are judged according to their deeds, leading to their placement in either the book of life or the lake of fire, a clear parallel to the separation mentioned in Matthew.
calvinMatthew 13:44-52: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
- Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field, which when found a man hideth, [227] and for the joy which he hath on account of it, goeth away, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant, seeking beautiful…
pulpitMatthew 13:49: "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,"
Verse 49. - So shall it be at (in, Revised Version) the end of the world (cf. vers. 39, 40, notes): the angels shall come forth (ver. 41), and sever. Taking them completely away (ἀφοριοῦσιν). The wicked (τοὺς πονηρούς); Matthew 7:18 and Matthew 6:13, notes. As compared with σαπρός (ver. 48), it refers more directly to the moral character. Our Lord has here left the ima…
The angels don't just separate the wicked from the righteous; they actively "sever" them out from among the righteous. This means the separation is a deliberate act of removal, highlighting that the wicked, even when mixed within the community of faith, are fundamentally distinct and will be ultimately expelled.
Jesus has just finished a series of parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, including the parable of the net that catches both good and bad fish. This verse serves as the explanation for that final parable, directly stating that just as the net's contents are separated at the end, so too will people be separated at the end of the age. This separation, performed by angels, signifies the ultimate judgment and sorting of the wicked from the righteous.
Jesus has just finished a series of parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, including the parable of the net that catches both good and bad fish. This verse serves as the explanation for that final parable, directly stating that just as the net's contents are separated at the end, so too will people be separated at the end of the age. This separation, performed by angels, signifies the ultimate judgment and sorting of the wicked from the righteous.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 13:49 is available in the Sola app.
dikaios · Greek Adjective
Those who are justified through faith in God; they are righteous not by their own works, but by being declared right in God’s sight through His grace. They are characterized by their obedience and alignment with God’s holiness.
"So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous" — The angels don't just separate the wicked from the righteous; they actively "sever" them out from among the righteous. This means the separation is a deliberate act of removal, highlighting that…
