Are We Sheep or Goats?

By Dean Collins

I made reference to Matthew 25 yesterday but didn’t provide any commentary about this specific passage. Normally, I post the scripture text at the end of my comments. Today, I am putting the passage up front to help us focus on the words of Jesus. I am sure you agree that what Jesus says is far more important than anything I might say in general or about what Jesus said! Please read:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

Christians believe that Jesus will one day return and renew and restore all things, uniting heaven and earth. One of the actions that Jesus describes in this passage is a step in the process to our living in the presence of God for eternity. According to Jesus, he will come in glory, accompanied by angels, and will take his place on his glorious throne. Notice what Jesus said next:

“Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

All humans bear the image of God: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). In Romans 13:1, the Apostle Paul also told us, “…For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Jesus was very specific about our discipleship. In both Matthew 28 and Acts 1, we are explicitly told to go into all the world and share and model the good news of Jesus. As a lifelong disciple of Jesus, I will admit that sometimes it seems tough to find the moment and the way to share our faith with another. But what is noteworthy in this passage is that there is no special education needed to offer a cup of water to a thirsty person and no deep theological explanation necessary to give or send food to someone in need. Children can do these things, so certainly anyone with childlike faith can as well.

I went to Auburn for graduate school, but I did not study veterinary science, so I will admit that I am no expert in sheep and goats. However, I have never been around sheep or goats and had any trouble distinguishing between the two. I’ve been to plenty of farms and been to a few different countries, and unless I was completely confused, I never had trouble identifying the two different animals.

I wonder if Jesus was using that same principle in his division of sheep and goats. The sheep were obvious based on their actions. And the goats were obvious based on their lack of actions. This passage challenges us to make sure that we are doing the simple acts of obedience that Jesus asks of us. If we are going to use our influence as Christians to influence our country’s actions, surely we must remember that caring for those who cannot care for themselves bears more than a casual consideration. Jesus expects more of us.

Father, your words convict us. Forgive us for our apathy in showing compassion to the least of these. We pray that you would provide for those in need today and that you would use us as you can to accomplish your mission in both word and deed. In Jesus name, amen.

Photo by Pexels
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