Sheep & Goats

In the 25th chapter of Matthew, Jesus shares a passage concerning "Judgment" and it is a familiar passage. Most of us have heard part or all of it either in a sermon or song. The entire subject passage was also made famous by a 1970's contemporary Christian artist by the name of Keith Greene and he called it "The Sheep & Goats".

I want to focus on a couple of verses here and they are verses 34 - 36 and it says, "Then the King will say to those on His right, Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me."

These would be considered the "Sheep" in Keith's song. Those who continually ministered as they went through life. There are those who's heart it is, to try to ease the burden of others who are experiencing pain and suffering in life. We have tried to offer that ministry to others and there are those who have "bathed" us in this ministry throughout my illness over the last four years. Jesus looks at these people with very high regard for these are the kingdom of God.

Great reward lay ahead for those who fall into this category for their ministering hearts for it is Jesus Himself who says in verse 40, "And the King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."

Jesus is preparing a place for those who's heart it is to minister the love of Christ to his fellow man. In this chapter Jesus offers His Judgment of the Nations and this is very different from the "Great White Throne Judgment" as the "Son of Man comes in His glory...verse 31!

1. At this judgment, He will judge the living nations (Joel 3:11-16) - At the white throne judgment, He will judge the wicked dead.
2. At this judgment, there will be no resurrection of the dead - At the great white throne all the wicked dead are raised (Rev. 20:13)
3. At this judgment, the judge is God "the King" judging the living nations in His earthly kingdom - At the great white throne, the judge is God, judging only the wicked dead.
4. At this judgment, there are no books opened - At the great white throne, the "books were opened."
5. At this judgment, there are three classes judged: "sheep", the elect of Israel (Rev. 7:9-17); "goats", the unsaved (2 Thess. 1:7-10); "tribes", the elect of Israel (Rev. 7:1-8 & Rom. 11:25-28; - At the great white throne, there is only one class; "the dead."
6. At this judgment, the King gives the kingdom to those who have eternal life - At the great white throne, there are no saved and no kingdom; they are all "thrown into the lake of fire."

There is so much more that could be discussed in this passage of scripture but never is there the room. The entire passage concerning this judgment is Matt. 25:31-46 and it would be good to review this message from the Lord frequently.

The point I am trying to make is that the Lord is looking to us to do His "bidding" daily as we walk this earth, just as He did when He was here Himself. We have a job to do and this is to show our love and compassion to those "hard hit" and suffering physical and emotional difficulties. We continue to try to reach out as much as possible to those in need and people have certainly been there to help me when needed. I guess I can say that I have had the opportunity to meet quite a few "Sheep & Goats"!

Dave