The Sheep And The Goats Series

Introduction

A. The outline for this message came from “The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible,” by Leadership Ministries Worldwide

B. Our passage this morning is often considered to be about the final judgment.

1. This is not the Great White Throne Judgment

2. This the Christ’s judgment of those living on the earth when He come to rule for a thousand years, the millennial reign

3. We often think that this is the judgement of the nations

a. But, one thing we must remember is that nations are made up of people

b. We have a nation that is compassionate

c. We have a nation that is concerned about other people

d. We have a nation that gives to charities and disaster relief in record amounts

e. But, we must also remember that it is the individuals that give

(1) People, individual people give in compassion and concern

(2) But in this nation of more that 300 million, we seem to raise a few measly million in charitable efforts

(3) If every individual gave a single dollar to the Red Cross each year, it would never be short of funds

(4) What’s the problem?

(5) There are a lot of individuals in our country that never give a dime to charity

(6) And so, the king in our passage is dealing with the people of the nations

(7) The cheap, penny-pinching, chintzy, petty and miserly individuals will not profit from the charitable acts of his fellow citizens

4. It is important to see that Jesus was judging two types of beings, sheep and goats.

a. Talking about people of course

b. Note the sheep (truly born again believers) serve with Christ's heart of love because they are sheep.

(1) The ministry they rendered came from within.

(2) It was a natural ministry performed by sheep.

(3) It arose from a selfless, God-centered nature.

c. Goats do not serve with Christ's heart of love because they are goats.

(1) The acts of kindness identified the sheep as sheep.

(2) The neglect of the goats identified them as goats.

(3) The sheep acted like sheep, that is, they served because they were sheep.

(4) And the goats acted like goats because they were goats.

d. This is the very point of the picture.

(1) When Christ sets them at His hand, they are already sheep and goats.

(2) Judgment is passed upon the goats because they did not serve Christ

(3) And blessing is bestowed upon the sheep because they served Christ.

(a) James 2:18 is a perfect illustration of sheep and goat behavior

James 2:18 (NKJV)

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

(b) A man who says he has faith and does not minister to people is only professing faith in Christ.

(c) Also Ephesians 2:10 says that we were recreated for good works

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

(d) The only faith that God knows and accepts is the faith that serves Christ by ministering to people.

C. In our passage this morning we have this logical division

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

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

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

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

a. Let us turn to Matthew 25:31 - 33 as we see that

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. This is not the rapture

a. Notice that 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

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

c. When He comes, He is coming with His holy angels.

(1) There will be an innumerable number of glorious beings that will accompany Him

(2) This will authenticate the glory and honor of His person as God.

(3) Jesus has spoken of the angels part in this final

2. When He comes, He is coming to be enthroned.

a. When He sits upon "the throne of His glory," He sits in judgment.