Matthew 25:41–46: Eternal Punishment and Eternal Life
Jesus ends his teaching on the nations with a verdict from the King himself. The passage says little about the mechanics of hell and everything about who decides, who is sent away, and how long the outcome lasts.
Matthew 25:34–40: Mercy Shown to the Least
Jesus pictures the King welcoming people who never realized they were serving him. The hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned are the ones he identifies with, and he takes personally what is done or left undone for them.