Are you a Sheep or a Goat?

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. Matthew 25:31-33 ^[NASB]

Going back into the Olivet Discourse again, in Matthew 25:33, Jesus uses the analogy of sheep and goats to illustrate a point. According to the passage, during the final judgment, Jesus will separate the people (us) into two groups: the sheep and the goats. The differentiation between the sheep and the goats is based on their actions and attitudes towards others. It’s an interesting juxtaposition – they look very much similar, and sometimes when seen at a distance, we have difficulty telling them apart – but then there’s something about their appearance; the way they move; or something.

The sheep represent those who have shown compassion, kindness, and love to others. They have cared for the needs of others, such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. These acts of kindness are seen as acts of service to Jesus himself. As a result, the sheep are blessed and inherit eternal life.

On the other hand, the goats represent those who have neglected or ignored the needs of others. They have not shown compassion or love towards their fellow human beings. As a consequence, they are condemned and face eternal punishment. It is yet another example of selfishness versus selflessness, or as rev. Bill Johnson juxtaposes sympathy and compassion – “Sympathy is the counterfeit of compassion; Sympathy locks you in a problem, compassion brings you out.” (Bill Johnson)

The differentiation between the sheep and the goats emphasizes the importance of living a life of love and service towards others. It reminds us of the significance of caring for those in need and treating others with kindness and compassion.

Lord Jesus, come into my heart; change me. Give me the strength to be compassionate and loving towards others; not selfish or self serving. I ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.