The Sheep And The Goats Series

Message

Matthew 25:31-46.

The Sheep and the Goats

Let’s turn to Matthew 25:31-46 and read the parable of the sheep and the goats.

The basic teaching of this passage is summarised by Jesus in verse 46. “Then they (the goats) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous (sheep will go) to eternal life”.

There is no confusion.

There are no issues left hanging in the air.

On the day of judgement our destiny will be clearly revealed by Jesus who is the righteous judge.

It sounds clear enough, until we have a closer look at the standard which is used to bring this judgement about. Have a look at verses 40 and 45.

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:40

He (the King) will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

Matthew 25:45

The judgement of the sheep and the goats is directly connected to the way they have treated “the least of these”. So, if we are going to understand this passage we need to answer the question, “Who are ‘the least of these’?”.

The beginning of an answer is that “the least of these” are the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the unclothed, the sick and the prisoner mentioned by Jesus. When we think of such people often think of those in society who are down and out. Those on the fringe. The uncared for. The unloved. The ones with great needs.

But if we limit our scope in this way then we kind of run into an issue. Because there are many people … and many organisations … who are not necessarily Christian, or who don’t promote themselves as a Christian organisation … who are helping the hungry, and thirsty, and strangers, and unclothed, and sick, and imprisoned.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR – their mandate is to “aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people and help them resettle to a third country.”

Muslim Aid is an international charity that provides help to people who are “victims of natural disasters or conflict or suffering from poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, discrimination, homelessness, debt, unemployment, injustice, deprivation or lack of skills and economic opportunities.”

If the criteria for eternal acceptance is “you helped ‘the least of these’” … well then people from these groups – and many other organisations – could qualify as sheep.

Now we know this can’t be possible.

So let’s have a closer look at the Scripture.

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:40

He (the King) will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

Matthew 25:45

It isn’t just “the least” … it is “the least who are in relationship with Jesus”

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 needed clothes and you clothed me,

I was sick and you looked after me,

I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Matthew 24:35-36

“What you did for them, you did for me.” That is what Jesus is saying.

But Scripture is clear – Jesus does not reside in everyone.

Jesus only resides in those who are connected to Him in faith.

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:22-23

Think about Saul … who became Paul. Saul has been persecuting Christians and he is so determined to get as many Christians as possible he is on his way to Damascus. AS Saul neared Damascus “a light from heaven flashed around him. A voice said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute ME?” (Acts 9:3-4).

Saul persecutes Jesus because the Spirit of Jesus is in the Christians.

But Jesus doesn’t reside in everyone.

Even if you are hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or needing clothes, or sick, or in prison.

Even if you are one of these, Jesus doesn’t reside in you, unless you also are in relationship with Jesus.

So this passage is not saying, “Your entrance into eternity is based on how you have treated any person who hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or needing clothes, or sick, or in prison.”

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help these people. Scripture has many passages that speak to this.