What Should We Know about the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25?
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- Published Jul 24, 2023
Have you ever read something from the Bible and thought, “What on earth is God saying?” Sometimes we can come across an analogy or a parable and be confused about how it applies to us. One example of this is Jesus’ comparison between sheep and goats. Today we will take a closer look at the meaning of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25.
When we consider some of the most well-known/stand-alone Bible verses, the truth is that some of them are poetic or have a certain sense of encouragement. Sometimes we can pull a verse because it looks great on a coffee mug or wall art hanging in our homes. However, if we were to randomly read Matthew 25:33, “He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left” we might assume that we would be a saying that belonging at a farmhouse. At first glance it may appear that God is giving some kind of animal protocol. This is why we study the entire context of Scripture, not just a single verse.
Context of Matthew 25
These are some of Jesus’ final teachings before suffering on the cross. Just as He predicted His death and resurrection to come and they did not fully understand, we also see Him predict His final return that we today cannot fully comprehend. We are moving towards His unfolding perfect plan. This is the beauty of God being sovereign and trustworthy. Matthew 25 begins with the parable of the ten virgins and the parable of the talents. Both emphasize the need to prepare for the return of Christ. This leads us to the portion of Scripture found in Matthew 25:31-46 which is often titled, “The Sheep and the Goats.” Jesus is telling us of the future judgment that is coming. He shares this not out of a heart of hate, but out of a heart of longing and desire to see people come to Him.
Think about a loving father who has a toddler running ahead toward a busy street of traffic. Does the father just stay silent? Does he cheer that child on to injury and death? No, absolutely not. The loving dad cries out for this child, runs after him, and does everything to stop this little one from getting hit. There is one problem, though, the dad is not the son. Even if the dad has taught the child over and over to look both ways and not to run off or go into the busy street, the son still makes a choice.
In a similar way, we (like the child) have chosen sin, and now we are running in a direction towards destruction and hell, but Jesus came to rescue us. He is sharing the hope He gives in Matthew 25, as well as the reality of what will happen based on our response to His call for freedom.
We first read of Jesus (the Son of Man) coming back with the angels and sitting on His throne of judgment. All people from all time will be gathered before Him. We read that he will separate them from one another like sheep from goats.
If you were to see a sheep next to a goat for the first time, they actually have a lot of very similar features. Although all people are in the flesh, spiritually speaking, we are either on God’s side or Satan’s side. There is no in-between. We accept Jesus, or we do not. We are His, or we are not.
A goat looks very similar to a sheep but has a beard and horns, and the two are completely different animals. This would have been a more common animal for the people sitting under this teaching. I looked up some fun facts about actual sheep and goats since I am not in a farming community. These were two of the most interesting discoveries on sheep versus goats:
“Goats tend to be inquisitive and will oftentimes stray from their herd to investigate new things out of curiosity. Sheep prefer to stay in their herd.” When it comes to food, goats are natural browsers. Sheep, however, are picky and selective.
Ponder this for a moment. Goats stray from the herd. Sheep stay with the herd. Goats will eat whatever (often consuming trash), where sheep are more particular about what they take in. As we connect this concept with our spiritual lives, a sheep is part of God’s people (the herd). A sheep (Believer in Jesus) is transformed by the Holy Spirit to be filled with godly/eternal things. Where an unbeliever in Christ (goat) has strayed from the Good Shepherd (Jesus) and seeks to consume on worldly/useless things.
Jesus’ Description of Sheep:
- Believers
- On His right (The right hand is typically the place of honor in the Bible)
- Welcomed to inherit the kingdom prepared for them
- Faithful to follow Jesus and love others well
- Humble in response
- Served the least of these
Jesus’ Description of Goats:
- Unbelievers
- On His left
- Cast out for eternity in the eternal fire
- Rejected Jesus
- Not faithful to love well
- Question Jesus
- Did not serve the least of these
The Key Verse of Explanation
Matthew 25:46 says, “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The “Sheep,” AKA: Those who accept Jesus’ gift, will have eternal life. The “Goats,” AKA: Those who do not accept Jesus’ gift will have eternal punishment.
This is not a fun concept to take in because of the weight of it all. We have loved ones, neighbors, and people in our communities who have yet to receive Jesus as their Savior and start that relationship. How many of them are we pursuing in His love with the gospel message? Are we sharing His gift of hope in salvation with them?
Within the message of hope comes the warning to protect others from what is ahead. As a good dad would tell his small child to stop running toward the oncoming traffic, are we going to be obedient to share this message with others? We should desire that all people would be sheep on the right hand of Jesus.
There was an old children’s hymn called “I Just Want to Be a Sheep” by Brian M. Howard. I sang it growing up.
The chorus sings:
“I just wanna be a sheep Baa, baa, baa, baa
I just wanna be a sheep Baa, baa, baa, baa
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
I just wanna be a sheep Baa, baa, baa, baa”
Today, let’s pray for the salvation of those around us who need Christ and ask the Spirit to help us share His gospel clearly as we watch Him bring more people to His right hand on the day of judgment, a day of victory for those who receive His salvation.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Andi Edwards
