The Sheep and the Goats
THE PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS
Mt. 25:31-46
INTRODUCTION: Not accurate to call this a parable. Certainly it is not “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” Further, it is not an account, such as the rich man and Lazarus, which might have actually taken place, for this is placed in the future. However, it is told as a certain event!
I. The Setting
A. Spoken to disciples.
1. Mt. 24:l ff. reveals the audience to whom Jesus was speaking.
2. This conversation continues through Mt. 25:46 (note Mt. 26:1).
3. This helps us to understand the point of the lesson.
a. It is an abuse and a misinterpretation of the passage to conclude that doing good is all that is necessary to be saved.
b. One must first be a follower of Jesus, a Christian; then these things must characterize his life.
B. Spoken by Jesus.
1. He is the one with the authority to speak on these matters!
2. Reinforces and gives a description of what is stated in the following passages:
a. John 5:22-29
b. Rom. 14:10-12
c. Acts 17:30, 31
d. 2 Cor. 5:10
e. 1 Thess. 4:16
f. 2 Tim. 4:1
g. Rev. 20:11-15
C. He will come as the Lord of glory, and as the great King! (31, 34, 40)
II. The Great Gathering (v.32)
ALL WILL BE THERE! It is an appointment all must keep!
III. The Great Separation
A. Two sides only! (v. 32)
1. No “middle ground!”
2. No “gray areas.”
3. If one wants to be among the “sheep,” should he not follow the absolutely safest course of action?
B. What will be some of the separations?
1. Friends will be separated.
2. Some husbands and wives will be separated.
3. Some parents and children will be separated.
! IV. The Great Reward
A. “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (v. 34).
1. Jesus invites you to “Come” now (Mt. 11:28-30). If you come to him now, you can “come” with him then!
2. God has had in mind the riches of heaven for those who will be saved from “before the foundation of the world.” Before he made man, he made a plan (Cf. Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:20).
B. There will be surprise!
1. Those who were commended for rendering service to Christ expressed surprise, by asking the question, “When saw we thee...?” (v. 37)
2. The lesson is that service to our fellow man, “loving neighbor as ourselves,” “doing unto others as we would have them do unto us,” is service to Christ! (v. 40)
V. The Great Punishment
A. “Depart from me, ye cursed...” (v. 41).
1. This is the most terrible separation of all!
2. Separation from friends and loved ones will be awful, but is not to be compared to the separation from God, and Christ!
a. “Every good and perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights” (James 1:16). But in hell, there will be no semblance of any good thing!
b. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; Cf. John l:4-9. Where He is not, there can be no light!
B. Notice the original purpose of hell!
1. “...prepared for the devil and his angels.” (v. 41)
2. Though “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9); and while he “would have all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:3,4); still it is plainly taught throughout the Bible that those who reject the Son of God, and who fail to serve him as Lord and King, will be eternally punished!
3. The company of the damned will be “the devil and his angels,” and their abiding-place will be suitable for “the devil and his angels.”
C. Notice that within even the followers of the Lord, many will hear the sentence of doom.
1. These were as surprised at their condemnation as the others were at their reward (note the question, “When saw we thee...?’)
2. Failure to serve others is a failure to serve the Lord!
CONCLUSION: Jesus, the Master Teacher, brings alive for us the final judgment. “There’s a great day coming,” just as the song says. Are you ready?