Ελληνικό SiteSheep And Goats
This familiar parable has some valuable lessons.
Matthew 25:31-46
End of the world.
- all nations shall be assembled (this did not happen in 70 AD.)
- separation between the righteous and the wicked
- eternal rewards and punishments
- The glory of the Son of Man. He who was humiliated shall be glorified
Sheep
- a kingdom prepared for them before the foundation of the world; before they had done, thought, or decided anything (v. 34).
- blessed of my Father—by creation, providence and electing grace
- those who have been thus blessed will do good, not as the basis of grace but as the result of grace (35-40).
- to do good expecting nothing in return, not even a favorable nod, is to be like God
Goats
- everlasting fire—prepared for the devil and his angels. Those who distort God’s electing grace complaining that some men have been predestined to hell need to read this verse again.
- the unrighteous are not habitually kind and are always “keeping score†hoping to earn favor with God
Acts of kindness
- Food
- Water
- Shelter
- Clothing
- Visiting/friendship
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Matthew 25:31-46
31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.