The Goats Series

Introduction

A. Our passage this morning is the same as last week. The judgment of the sheep and the goats.

1. Last week I covered the first two points in this passage

a. The Son of Man is coming to judge (v.31-33).

b. The judgment of sheep (v.34-40).

B. I pointed out that this is what is known as the judgement of the nations

1. And that nations are made up of people

a. I pointed out the compassion that we as a nation demonstrate

b. That we have a nation that is concerned about other people

c. That we have a nation that gives to charities and disaster relief in record amounts

d. That it is the individuals that give to the charities and disaster relief efforts

e. I also pointed out that there has to be millions of Americans who give nothing

(1) That if each of the 300 million Americans gave a single dollar to the Red Cross each year, it would never be short of funds.

(2) So why does the Red Cross continually need more funds?

(3) Because a lot of individuals in our country that never give a dime to charity

f. The king in our passage is dealing with the people of the nations

(1) And the goats, the cheap, penny-pinching, chintzy, petty and miserly individuals will be judged for their goaty ways

C. The last two points in our passage are as follows

1. The judgment of goats (v.41-45).

2. This judgment is for eternity (v.46).

a. For a quick review of our first two points, let us turn to Matthew 25:31 - 33

II. Body

A. The Son of Man is coming to judge (v.31-33).

Matthew 25:31-33 (NKJV)

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. {32} "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. {33} "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

1. Jesus says that the Son of Man comes in His glory to sit on the throne of His glory, that is the throne of David

a. He is coming as the King of Kings to rule the earth with His rod of iron

b. He will become the Judge of the whole universe, the Judge who is exalted above all

2. When He comes, He is coming to gather all nations.

a. All men will be gathered by the angels and brought before Him.

b. As I said, the word nations stresses that every single country, place, nationality, race, creed, color, language-every living citizen will be gathered before Him in judgment.

3. When He comes, He is coming to separate the individuals of the nations.

a. There has always been a mixture of sheep and goats, of good and evil, of wheat and tares that have grown up together

(1) In the same world

(2) In the same employments

(3) In the same nations

(4) In the same churches

(5) In the same cities

(6) In the same families

4. Christ will separate the good from the bad, the sheep from the goats

(1) The sheep will be placed on His right hand, the position of honor, glory, acceptance, and favor.

(2) The goats will be place at His left hand, the place of dishonor, and rejection

5. Again, these are the individuals who are living when Christ returns to the earth the reign and rule

a. Believers will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ immediately after the rapture

(1) This separation of the sheep and goats will not affect the sheep us

(2) But, this is Jesus declaration of good and bad behavior and as such we ought to take these things to heart

6. Just a reminder that Christ is now sitting on the throne at the right hand of God.

a. This is the throne of grace

b. In our passage He will sit on the throne of judgment

c. There is a difference between the throne of grace and the throne of judgment

(1) We, people, can come to the throne of grace for help, now

(2) But when Christ returns in glory, it will be too late to receive help.

(3) His throne will be a throne of judgment to which there will be no approach apart from judgment.

(a) Lets turn to Matthew 25:34 - 40 as we review

7. The judgment of sheep

Matthew 25:34-40 (NKJV)

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: {35} 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; {36} 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' {37} "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? {38} 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? {39} 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' {40} "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'