8 October MATTHEW 25

Sheep and Goats

Matthew 25:31-33(AMP) “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory and majesty and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him ; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right , and the goats on His left .

The sheep on Jesus’s right hand are blessed by God the Father and given an inheritance. The reason is stated in Matthew 25:35-36(AMP) 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; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me ; I was in prison, and you came to Me .’

Matthew 25:39-40(AMP) And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’

The goats on Jesus’s left hand are cursed with eternal hellfire. They had the opportunity to do good but did nothing. Matthew 25:42-43(AMP) for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me .’

They ask: Matthew 25:44(AMP) Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then the reply from Jesus: Matthew 25:45(AMP) Then He will reply to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these , you did not do it for Me.’

Jesus then ends the discourse with a contrast: Matthew 25:46(AMP) Then these will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God into eternal (unending) life.”

The good works mentioned in the parable are not the cause of salvation but the effect of salvation. Remember, we are not saved by good works, but for good works. Good works are therefore a result of our salvation.

Ephesians 2:10(ESV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The core message of the parable of the sheep and goats is that God’s people will love others. Good works will result from our relationship with God.