The Parable Of The Sheep & The Goats Series

Matthew 25:31-46. [31]"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] 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. [33] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. [34] 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. [35] 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, [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] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? [39] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' [40] 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.' [41]"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. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, [43]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.' [44] 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?' [45] 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.' [46] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (ESV)

As Canadian’s have had to deal with recent economic uncertainty, we now see extensive tariffs charged by China on Canadian Canola exports in response to Canadian tariffs on exported Chinese electric cars. This effectively closes the Chinese market to Canadian canola with an estimated $5 billion dollar loss in sales. (https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/trump-cusma-canada-mexico-us-trade)

Actions have consequences. Accounting for actions will eventually come to everyone. Not even the sins of Christians are exempt. The marvelous and gracious privilege granted to Christians, however, is to have had the judgment and punishment for all their sins placed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who died as the substitute for sinners. By God’s divine grace working through their obedient trust in His Son, believers have the guilt and penalty for their sins nailed to the cross with Christ. But those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior must bear the penalty for their own sins, which is spiritual death and eternal damnation. The warning to unbelievers is stated over and over again in Scripture by word and demonstrated by direct acts of divine judgment.

Jesus’ closing words in the Olivet discourse-a sermon on His second coming given privately to the disciples after His last public teaching in the Temple-were one of the most severe and sobering warnings of judgment in all of Scripture, pictured as the divine separation of the righteous sheep from the unrighteous goats. Not only will it determine the ultimate, eternal destinies of everyone but will also determine who will and will not enter the kingdom. Only those who belong to the King, believers who have been born into God’s spiritual family and been made citizens of His spiritual kingdom, will enter His glorious kingdom.

"The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats" is not mentioned in any of the other gospels, no doubt because the other Gospels do not focus on Christ’s kingship, as does Matthew. For that same reason Matthew places much greater emphasis on all aspects of the Lord’s second coming than do the other gospels, because it is at Jesus` return, He will manifest Himself as King of kings and Lord of lords in consummate regal glory and power (Rev. 19:11–16). Therefore, in Matthew 25:31-46 in two ways, we see: 1) The Setting of Judgment (Matthew 25:31–32a) and 2) The Process of Judgment (Matthew 25:32b-46)

Through "The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats", we first see:

1) The Setting of Judgment (Matthew 25:31–32a)

Matthew 25:31-32a [31]"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] 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). (ESV)