The Sheep and the Goats

Illustration of The Sheep and the Goats
Jesus describes the last judgment in which the Son of Man separates the nations as sheep from goats, placing on his right those who fed the hungry and visited the sick and imprisoned, recognizing these acts as service to himself through his brethren. The goats on the left, having neglected such needs, depart into everlasting punishment while the sheep inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world.

Jesus describes the last judgment in which the Son of Man separates the nations as sheep from goats, placing on his right those who fed the hungry and visited the sick and imprisoned, recognizing these acts as service to himself through his brethren. The goats on the left, having neglected such needs, depart into everlasting punishment while the sheep inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. This parable underscores that faith in Christ is evidenced by mercy to the least, shaping one's place in eternal judgment.

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Category: Judgment & Eternity

Meaning: At the final judgment, people are separated by how they treated the least of Christ's brothers.

Audience: Disciples

Key Chapters

Matthew 25 Parables of Readiness 6 min read This passage shows that our everyday compassion for the needy reveals our true l...

Key Passages

The Parable

Matthew 25:31-46

This passage shows that our everyday compassion for the needy reveals our true love for Jesus and shapes our eternal future.

W31hen 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. 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. 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.

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Did You Know?

1

At the final judgment, the King separates people like a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

2

The sheep are blessed because they cared for 'the least of these'. the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned.

3

The goats are cursed for neglecting the same people.

4

Jesus identifies so closely with the needy that serving them is serving Him.