Separating the Sheep and the Goats

 Separating the Sheep and the Goats 

Lesson Text: Matthew 25:31-46 

Related Scriptures: Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Daniel 7:9-14;Matthew 16:24-28; I John 4:7-14 

TIME: A.D. 30 PLACE: Jerusalem 

GOLDEN TEXT—“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46). 

Introduction 

The apostle Paul wrote, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). In his Pastoral Epistles, Paul repeatedly reminded Timothy and Titus of the importance of good works. 

We understand that salvation is a gift from God because of His grace and is received through faith alone. We cannot earn salvation, no matter how many good works we do. Scripture does teach, however, that there will always be evidence of true salvation. James wrote, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?” (2:14). Among the works that reveal the true heart of a believer is that of helping to meet the needs of others. This is so important that in the final judgment of the nations, Christ will point to what they did or did not do for others. 

LESSON OUTLINE 

JUDGING THE RIGHTEOUS—Matt. 25:31-36 

EVIDENCES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS—Matt. 25:37-40 

JUDGING THE UNRIGHTEOUS—Matt. 25:41-46 

Exposition: Verse by Verse 

JUDGING THE RIGHTEOUS MATT. 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

A gathering (Matt. 25:31-32). Studying prophecy is not just about studying the details of the future. It is about knowing what is coming and having that knowledge affect how we live today. The text of this week’s study reveals the importance of present living in the light of future events more clearly than any other passage in Matthew. This is the end of a lengthy discourse found in both chapters 24 and 25, and there is emphasis through the entire passage on the importance of how we live today in light of what is coming. {What Jesus referred to in these verses is the last eschatological, or end-time, event prior to the establishment of the millennial kingdom.}Q1 First will come the rapture, when all living believers will be taken directly into heaven (I Thess. 4:13-17). This will be followed by a time of tribulation on the earth. Many will suffer during that time, but many also will turn to Christ for salvation. At the conclusion of the tribulation, Christ will return to earth. Then will follow the time of judgment described in Matthew 25:31-46, which will determine whether the survivors of the tribulation will enter Christ’s earthly kingdom. The two parables preceding this passage (vss. 1-30) seem to explain the judgment that will come upon Israel when they are unprepared for the return of the Lord. Verses 31 through 46 describe the judgment that will come upon the Gentile nations at Christ’s return. 

The coming of the Son of man is described in Daniel 7:13-14. There He was seen appearing before the “Ancient of days” and receiving dominion and a kingdom so that all the world will serve Him. Jesus said the holy angels will come too, and He will be given a throne of glory. All the nations will come before Him, and He will separate believers from unbelievers, similar to the way a shepherd separates his sheep and goats. 

A dividing (Matt. 25:33-34). The context indicates that this will not be a judgment of entire nations but rather a judgment of individuals from within each nation. If entire nations were judged as entities, some unbelievers would be allowed into the kingdom of Christ along with the believers; that will not happen. {Jesus referred to those on His right hand as sheep and to those on His left as goats.}Q2 The sheep represent believers, while the goats represent unbelievers. It will not be possible for anyone to fool the Lord at this time. 

{It is the group on Christ’s right hand that will be invited to enter into the kingdom with Him.}Q3 {Throughout the Bible the place at the right hand is viewed as the place of honor and authority (Pss. 45:9; 110:1).}Q4 The terms “sheep” and “goats” actually refer to people, of course, and notice that from Matthew 25:34 on they are no longer referred to in that way. They are spoken of as those on the right and those on the left. The people coming from the nations of the world will be divided into believers and unbelievers. 

All believers at that time will be invited to enter the kingdom that has been prepared for them. This is the millennial kingdom, in which Christ will reign on the earth for one thousand years (Rev. 20:6). This group will enter the kingdom without dying, so they will be in their fleshly bodies. These are the saints who survive the horrors of the tribulation. 

A pronouncement (Matt. 25:35-36). {At this point Jesus explains why this group is being invited to enter the kingdom. He specifies six different actions that they took at one time or another that benefited Him. When He was hungry, they gave Him food. When He was thirsty, they gave Him drink. When He was a stranger, they took Him in and cared for Him. When He was naked, they gave Him clothing. When He was sick, they visited Him and nursed Him. When He was in prison, they came to Him, revealing their caring hearts.}Q5 

These are six needy conditions that represent the kinds of needs people experience at one time or another. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Each need has something to do with survival or quality of life and is important to every one of us. We could think of many additional needs that arise in our lives in which others can minister to us, helping and encouraging us. Jesus speaks as if these actions were done directly for Him, meeting needs He faced personally. 

EVIDENCES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

A sense of confusion (Matt. 25:37-39). {The group at the right hand of Jesus, previously called sheep, is now referred to as “the righteous.” They are portrayed as being confused and surprised at the descriptions they had just heard. They reiterate each need in the same order Jesus gave them and ask when they met these needs. They do not remember even seeing Him, let alone doing these things for His personal benefit.}Q6 

Remember that this is a group of people who will have survived the tribulation; so they will not have seen Jesus until His return to earth just prior to this event (vs. 31). In their minds, therefore, they will have trouble understanding what He means. No doubt they would have been more than glad to do any and all of these things for their Saviour, but He will not have been physically present on earth. They will not know He had such needs or be aware of ways they met them. They will interpret His pronouncement literally. 

We are about to see how God views the importance of meeting the needs of our fellow believers. While we might enjoy studying prophecy and be enamored of the many details that are given about future events, what is really important to us now is the way we live in the present. {As we anticipate Christ’s coming, we must remain aware of the circumstances around us. These circumstances include needs people face daily, and we cannot allow ourselves to become so engrossed in the study of the future that we forget these present needs.}Q7 

A reassurance (Matt. 25:40). Did you notice that in verse 34 Jesus referred to Himself as the King? The Son of man will come accompanied by His holy angels. He will sit on the throne of His glory, and He will set up His reign as King over all the earth at this time. In verse 40 He again referred to Himself as the King. This King will reassure the righteous that whenever they did acts of kindness in order to help His people, they were in essence doing those acts for Him. 

The phrase “unto one of the least of these my brethren” has been understood in several different ways. Since those gathered are divided into two categories designated as sheep and goats, these “brethren” appear to be another, separate group. Since the Jews will have already been dealt with, according to the two parables (vss. 1-30), this must be a different and special group. It is possible the reference is to the 144,000 Jewish evangelists who will spread the gospel of Christ during the tribulation (Rev. 7). 

This group will have suffered by refusing to take the mark of the beast (Rev. 13:16-17). They will be under a death threat and not be allowed to buy or sell in order to meet their needs. Of course, all believers will have faced the same discrimination, so it is possible Jesus was simply referring to those who had needs to whom others reached out, ministering unselfishly. The point is obvious: we are not saved just to care for ourselves; we are saved to be concerned and to reach out to meet the needs of God’s people. 

JUDGING THE UNRIGHTEOUS 

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 

Damnation (Matt. 25:41). {Jesus then explains what will happen to those at His left side. They will be commanded to depart, being referred to as “ye cursed.” Their destination is “everlasting fire,” a description of hell, which has been prepared for Satan and his angels.}Q8 Among the ones addressed there probably will be many pretenders, those who profess to be believers in Christ but in reality are deceivers. No pretender will ever be able to deceive the Lord at the time of judgment. 

Hell was not originally prepared for people. Paul wrote, l“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:3-4). God wants people to be saved. Hell was prepared for Satan and the demons, but those people who refuse to trust Jesus as Saviour will be sent there too. 

Condemnation (Matt. 25:42-43). {The King now lists the same six physical needs He mentioned to the righteous: hunger, thirst, being a stranger, being naked, being sick, and being in prison. This time, however, He declares that this group did not meet any of those needs.}Q9 We see the contrast between these two groups becoming clearer. They are characterized by entirely different sets of attitudes that lead to entirely different actions. One group is totally self-centered, while the other group reaches out to those around them. 

Is this not often the case in the world today? Believers have a special bond that draws them together. When other believers are hurting, they are pulled toward them with a desire to encourage and help—at least, that is the way it should be. It is possible to be a coldhearted believer and not be moved by the needs of others, but it certainly should not be that way. God’s people ought to have tender hearts toward those who are suffering and in need. This is one of the evidences of the presence of Christ within a person. 

Affirmation (Matt. 25:44-45). The people in this group also seem confused and surprised. They have not seen Jesus either and wonder when they could possibly have missed doing these things for Him. Perhaps some will cry out, “This is not fair. You were not there telling us what You wanted us to do for You.” There will be no good excuses however, for there has always been opportunity to know His will. God has given the world His Word, in which His will is clearly revealed. 

Jesus explains that when they refused to reach out and help “one of the least of these” (vs. 45), they in essence refused to help Him. Life is not meant to be for the benefit of ourselves only. There are needy people all around us, and every one of us can help them in some way. We are not equally equipped to help, but we all have something we can do to assist and encourage. Believers should have a special burden for fellow believers simply because we are all part of the same family, with God as our Father. 

The “goats” evidence the fact that they are unbelievers through the uncaring attitudes that caused them to turn deaf ears to those in need. They cannot blame God for the sentence pronounced against them, for they made their own decision to turn away from Him in unbelief. This truth cannot be ignored. 

Separation (Matt. 25:46). The long discourse of Jesus (chaps. 24—25) and the final judgment scene He described are now summarized in a single sentence. {There are two categories of people and two eternal destinies. People are either believers in Jesus Christ or unbelievers who refuse to accept Him. There is no middle ground, and there will be no second chance for those who come to the end of life on earth without having trusted in Him. What we do about Jesus now has eternal implications.}Q10 

There are also two destinies, heaven and hell. Heaven is where God dwells and where believers will live for all eternity. It is described in the Bible as a beautiful place of joy, peace, and contentment. A detailed description is included in the final two chapters of Revelation, where we are assured that God will wipe away all tears, death, and sorrow (21:4). Everything will be new (vs. 5), and we will be with the Lord forever. 

Hell is described as a place of eternal torment. Mark 9:42-48 warns that it is a place where the fire is never quenched. In that passage Jesus said it would be better to be disfigured on earth, if that is what it took to stay away from sin, than to enter hell and be punished forever. It is this place where Jesus said unbelievers will go, in contrast to heaven, where those who trust in Christ will enjoy eternal life. 

The greatest human need is that of receiving Jesus as Saviour. Once we have done that, we should be so grateful for our salvation that we gladly reach out to those around us with the message of eternal life and we should be ready to come to the aid of fellow believers. —Keith E. Eggert.

Union Gospel Press, Union Gospel Press; Union Gospel Press, Union Gospel Press. Bible Expositor and Illuminator (p. 221). Union Gospel Press. Kindle Edition.