The Parable Of The Sheep And The Goats Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

CrossWay Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

We are now looking at the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats found in Matthew 25. It is important to remember that this parable is the conclusion of a single sermon that Jesus delivered and is recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25. It is a sermon concerning the issue of the last days and the Lord's Second Coming. I've said many times that a critical element of the gospel includes the return of Christ. And when Christ returns, we know that he will establish his throne on earth and among the first things that he will do from that throne is judge the nations.

The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats is the illustration of the judgment that will take place. As you know, and through my teaching, parables are not truths in of themselves, nor are they moral stories. They are visual illustrations cast alongside a truth in order for you to see and understand a truth more clearly. This is crucial for us to understand as we study this parable this week and next.

It is one of the most challenging and provocative parables that Jesus taught. It is found in Matthew 25:31-46, and it describes the final judgment of all the nations, when the Son of Man will separate the righteous from the unrighteous, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The criterion for this separation is not based on church attendance, theological knowledge or moral purity, but on how one responded to ‘the least of these’: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Now, it is easy to assume based on this judgment, that Jesus is teaching that salvation is determined by works. That is not what this parable is teaching. So we need to go into this understanding the doctrine of salvation, which is that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. So it is important as we study this parable that we have a good understanding of God's Word and have a good grasp on sound biblical doctrine. So with that, we will handle these words carefully.

Nevertheless, this parable is a sober warning about the consequences of our actions, and a careful invitation to follow the example of Jesus, who identified himself with the least of these, and who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. In this sermon, we will explore the meaning and the implications of this parable, and how it calls us to live as faithful disciples of Christ in a broken and needy world.

Now, before we get into the exegesis of this passage, it is important to be reminded of a few things. Matthew 24 & 25 is a sermon in response to the question of when Jesus will return and what will be the signs. In his response, the Lord lists a various number of signs, such as, deceptions, false Christs, wars, earthquakes, celestial events, famines, Lawlessness, and apostasies. Jesus also reminded his disciples that the day and the hour of his return will remain unknown. Nobody knows the hour and the intent of that is repeated throughout the sermon and the parables and the sermon. That intent is why we must remain ready.

The purpose of the sermon, is to emphasize the necessity of the believer to be steadfast and awaiting the return of the Lord. That is the mark of a true believer. So, this sermon serves as a warning, just as the Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids was intended to warn you to be ready until the King comes. The reason for that warning is that when the King comes, there is going to be judgment. The fruit In that judgment is what we are looking at today.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament place tremendous emphasis on judgment. Not only in the prophets of the Old Testament, or the book of acts, or the epistles, or the Book of Revelation, it's also in the gospels. And if you remember, jesus concludes his sermon on the mount with sobering words,

“22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22–23)

Similarly, Jesus concludes this sermons also with sobering words, Matthew 25:41 “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.” The reason for this warning, is the compassion and love the Lord has that none should perish. Love warns. That's a basic expression of love. A cold, uncompassionate, heartless person is indifferent to warn. That's not what the Lord is doing.