John Calvin Commentary Matthew 25:31

"But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:" — Matthew 25:31 (ASV)

Now when the Son of man shall come in his glory. Christ continues with the same doctrine, and what he previously described in parables, he now explains clearly and without figurative language. The sum of what is said is that believers, to encourage themselves to holy and upright conduct, should contemplate with the eyes of faith the heavenly life, which, though it is now concealed, will finally be manifested at the last coming of Christ.

For, when he declares that when he shall come with the angels, then will he sit on the throne of his glory, he contrasts this last revelation with the disorders and agitations of earthly warfare. It is as if he had said that he did not appear for the purpose of immediately setting up his kingdom, and therefore that there was a need for hope and patience, so that the disciples would not be discouraged by long delay.

Therefore, we infer that this was added again so that the disciples, freed from the mistake about immediate and sudden happiness, would keep their minds engaged in warfare until Christ’s second coming, and would not give way or be discouraged because of his absence.

This is the reason why he says that he will then assume the title of King. For though he began his reign on the earth and now sits at the right hand of the Father, so as to exercise the supreme government of heaven and earth, yet he has not yet established before the eyes of men that throne from which his divine majesty will be far more fully displayed at the last day than it is now. For that of which we now by faith obtain nothing more than a taste will then have its full effect.

So then, Christ now sits on his heavenly throne, as far as it is necessary for him to reign to restrain his enemies and protect the Church. But then he will appear openly to establish perfect order in heaven and earth, to crush his enemies under his feet, to assemble his believing people to partake of an everlasting and blessed life, to ascend his judgment seat; and, in a word, there will be a visible manifestation of the reason why the kingdom was given to him by the Father.

He says that he will come in his glory; because, while he lived in this world as a mortal man, he appeared in the despised form of a servant. And he calls it his glory, though he elsewhere ascribes it to his Father, but the meaning is the same; for he means simply the divine glory, which at that time shone in the Father only, for in himself it was concealed.¹⁷²

¹⁷² “Pource qu’en Christ elle estoit cachee et ne se monstroit;” — “because in Christ it was concealed, and was not exhibited.”;” — “because in Christ it was concealed, and was not exhibited.”