SHEEP AND GOATS

Matthew 25:31-36

 

INTRODUCTION

A.                 It was closing in on the last few precious days in the life of Jesus

1.                  So He taught on subjects that were important

2.                  Subjects that were close to His heart

 

B.                 In the first part of Matthew 25

1.                  Jesus told two parables that described God’s attitude toward being invited into the kingdom

2.                  First parable is about the 10 virgins which talks about the need to watch for the second coming

3.                  The second parable is about the talents and the need to use God’s resources for God’s purposes

4.                  Then in the last part of this chapter Jesus describes the judgment that will take place when He returns

5.                  Matthew 25:31-36 -  31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

 

6.                  In these verses Jesus describes that Day when all will stand before Him and be judged

 

C.                 Jesus paints a picture in terms that are familiar with his audience

 

I.                   JESUS PAINTS A PICTURE OF JUDGMENT

A.                 His listeners had all seen shepherds separate the sheep from the goats

1.                  They could then understand what judgment would be like

2.                  It will be a day when some will be justified and others condemned

 

B.                 This is not a popular subject in our society

1.                  We like to think of ourselves as our own masters

2.                  We decide everything for ourselves

3.                  Our Sexuality is our business

4.                  Our integrity (or lack of it) is our business

5.                  Our definition of God is our business

 

C.                 Most of all we are happy thinking we are pretty good people

1.                  We work hard

2.                  We take care of our families

3.                  We do our best not to hurt anyone

4.                  Therefore – GOD MUST BE HAPPY WITH US

 

D.                But the description of judgment that Jesus gives is not like that at all

1.                  He says there will be a time of judging and He will do the judging

2.                  No matter what you thought God or Jesus

3.                  HE WILL JUDGE YOU – NOT YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT HIM

 

E.                 You will be judged on

1.                  Your response to Jesus as the Son of God

2.                  Did you come to Him?

3.                  Did you obey His commands?

4.                  Did you live like Him?

 

F.                  Let’s look at…

 

II.                A PICTURE OF KINGDOM PEOPLE

 

A.                 The sheep in this parable

1.                  Represent those who capture the nature of the kingdom of God

2.                  Are people who are serving Jesus by serving others

3.                  Commended because they

a.                   Fed the hungry

b.                  Gave drink to the thirsty

c.                   Clothed the naked

d.                  Visited the ill and the prisoner

 

4.                  Are noticed for the simple human kindnesses they offered others

 

B.                 God has always cared about

1.                  The needy

2.                  Those who have been treated unfairly

 

C.                 Kingdom people care about those kind of people as well

1.                  Jesus is trying to explain what kingdom people look like

2.                  They will be people who reach out to those who are hurting

3.                  People who serve willingly and not forced into service

4.                  That is how Jesus acted – How His Followers should act

 

D.                Let’s look at…

 

III.             A PICTURE OF KINGDOM PRETENDERS

 

A.                 The goats in this parable

1.                  Represent those who failed to develop a kingdom attitude

2.                  They are people who go through life without noticing others in need

3.                  They didn’t Feed / Clothe / Visit anyone

4.                  In other words they lived themselves

5.                  They never bothered with anyone else

 

B.                 These people are surprised at the basis of the judgment

1.                  They are not condemned for being dishonest ( Although that will condemn people)

2.                  They are not condemned for being more sinful

3.                  They are condemned because they failed to act in the many places they could have

4.                  They did not reach out to the hurting

 

C.                 :Jesus describes this event so we may be Sheep and not Goats

 

D.                What is the difference?

 

IV.              SHEEP CARE – GOATS ARE UNFEELING

 

A.                 The Sheep

1.                  There is nothing spectacular about these sheep

2.                  They didn’t build great church buildings

3.                  They didn’t organize great ministries

4.                  They simply cared about people in difficult circumstances

 

B.                 The most obvious characteristic of a child of God should be compassion for others

1.                  Notice they were not judgmental

2.                  They just helped those in need

3.                  They didn’t wait to see if the hungry deserved help

4.                  They didn’t sit back and see if the ill or criminal deserved their circumstances

5.                  They felt the pain of others and acted to help

 

C.                 Goats on the other hand are unfeeling

1.                  They make excuses as to why they didn’t help others

2.                  They go through a day proud of the fact they didn’t sin against God

3.                  Yet, all the while they could not care less about those that are hurting around them

 

D.                Perhaps the goats excuse themselves

1.                  Because they don’t know the hurting personally

2.                  Or they blame those in need for bringing it on themselves

3.                  Sheep Care – Goats are Unfeeling

 

V.                 SHEEP NOTICE – GOATS ARE OBLIVIOUS

 

A.                 The Sheep

1.                  Went through life noticing the people around them

2.                  They understood there were people who were Hungry / Thirsty / Hurting

3.                  Notice the pain of others

4.                  God’s children should have a heart for those in need

5.                  That was the heart of Jesus – That should be ours as well

 

 

B.                 The Goats

1.                  Went through life ignoring the people around them

2.                  Where there was pain – They went on their way

3.                  Where there was need – They didn’t even notice

4.                  They didn’t go through life hurting others – They were just oblivious to the needs of others

5.                  They failed to see the needs of others and in doing so they failed to act

 

VI.              SHEEP ACT – GOATS MAKE EXCUSES

 

A.                 The Sheep were amazed about their salvation

1.                  They had not done those things for Jesus

2.                  But Jesus reminded them THEY HAD DONE IF FOR HIM

3.                  If they had done if for those around them – They did it for Him

4.                  Noticing and helping others meant they ministered to Him

5.                  When they saw a need – They acted

 

B.                 The Goats were amazed about their condemnation

1.                  They made excuses

2.                  When did we ever see you?

3.                  When were you in need?

4.                  They implied that if they ever SAW JESUS in need – They assuredly would have helped

5.                  Their excuses has no weight

6.                  Jesus told them by failing others – They failed Him

 

VII.           WHAT ABOUT US TODAY?

 

A.                 Where is our heart?

1.                  Do we notice the needs of others?

2.                  Do we act when we see people in need?

 

B.                 The message of this passage is

1.                  Jesus wants us to see that judgment will based on whether our hearts are like His or not

2.                  Jesus came to seek and save the lost

3.                  He came to lift up the broken / take care of those in need

4.                  Is that what we do?

 

 

C.                 Jesus tells this parable during the last days of His life

1.                  This is important to Him

2.                  He is trying to get us to see the nature of the judgment we will face

 

D.                We must be a part of His kingdom

1.                  Have the nature of Christ in each of us

2.                  We need to leave our former way of life

a.                   Its priorities

b.                  Its hard-heartedness

c.                   Its neglect

 

3.                  We need to die to self and our old way of life

 

E.                 Hear the words of Jesus

1.                  Mark 16:16 – He who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

2.                  Come to Jesus – Reflect His nature and minister to the needs of others