Wednesday Bible Study Fellowship, November 12, 2008
Separating The Sheep And The Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
Introduction: Only in the gospel of Matthew do we find the parable of the sheep and the goats. This parable will bring us to an end of the Olivet Discourse and the end of Jesus’ answer to the question asked in 24:3. Remember, according to Matt.26:2, Jesus is only two days from Calvary, so this would put us on Wednesday just prior to Friday’s crucifixion.
I. The Parable
A. Jesus refers to Himself as “Son of Man” more than by any other title. This refers to His humility. (Philippians 2:5-8)
B. Jesus as “Son of Man” is also King of kings (34). It is Jesus who will be judge! (Rev.19:11-16; Philippians 2:9-11; John 5:22)
C. “Until this point in His ministry, Jesus had never directly referred to Himself as King” (MacArthur, 113).
D. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus returns. (Matt.24:29)
1. He will descend to the Mount of Olives, and a great valley will be created. (Zech.14:4, 5; Joel 3:12-17). In this valley the sheep and the goats will be separated.
2. The sheep and the goats make up “all the nations…” (32). The word for nations is “ethnos”. All ethnic groups will be represented. God is no respecter of persons!
3. It will probably occur during the additional 75 days mentioned in Daniel 12:11 &12. Remember, the last half of the tribulation is 3 ½ years or 1,260 days. (Dan.7:25, 9:27, 12:7; Rev.11:2-3, 12:14, 13:5)
4. Jesus will be accompanied by His angels. (II Thess.1:7-8)
5. Enoch prophesied about this judgment. (Jude 14, 15)
E. Returning with Jesus, besides His angels, will be
1. Old Testament saints
2. New Testament saints (Col.3:4)
3. Raptured saints
4. Martyred Tribulation saints
F. Jesus, as King of kings, will then separate the
1. saved sheep – saved saints who survived the tribulation
2. lost goats – those who reject Christ
G. The separation will be for eternity
1. The saved sheep will enter the millennium and enjoy eternal life (46).
2. The lost goats will go away to eternal punishment (46). Notice two very important truths:
a. The lost go into an “eternal” fire. The Greek word is pyr meaning “fire”. This is a literal fire. This is a non-consuming fire like Moses’ burning bush.
b. The fire is prepared for “the devil and his angels”. All humans who spend eternity in hell do so because they chose to.
II. The Sheep (34-40)
A. The sheep are the blessed! Remember after Jesus descends the door of salvation is closed. Remember when the bridegroom enters the wedding banquet, the door is shut (25:10). There is now no hope for salvation- only judgment for the lost. The saved are the blessed! During the tribulation, they were “the hunted”. Now they are “the blessed”.
B. Notice they are not saved because of works! They are saved based upon the foreknowledge of God. “…the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (25:34) (Rom.8:29)
C. Notice the works of the righteous:
1. They fed the hungry.
2. They gave drink to the thirsty.
3. They took in strangers.
4. They ministered to the sick.
5. They visited those in prison.
D. Jesus notes that these humble saints who wondered “when did we…”
1. “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me!”
2. What a great truth! Whatever we do for a brother / sister in Christ we do for Jesus, the King! (Matt.10:40; John 13:35).
E. Think of the life of a believer during the tribulation. You will be hunted and hounded. You won’t be able to buy or sell. You have little to eat… but you share it with a believer coming through you area. You risk your life to help them! This is the fruit of the Christian life!
1. Fruit – the test of salvation (Matt.7:16)
2. Fruit – good works (Col.1:10, James 2:15-17; I John 3:17-18)
3. Fruit – sharing (Rom.15:25-28)
4. Fruit – holiness (Rom.6:22)
F. “The good deeds commended in Matthew 25:35-36 are the fruit, not the root of salvation” (MacArthur, 122).
G. The righteous are doing “the good works” that God had planned for them (Eph.2:10) and thus they will hear “…take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (34). They are rightful heirs to kingdom living (Rom.8:16-17).
III. The Goats (41-45)
A. The goats have shown by their lack of fruit and works that they do not possess eternal life.
B. They may be like the 5 virgins who looked like possessors but had no possession of Jesus Christ!
Conclusion: When Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives, it will split in two from the east to the west (Zech.14:4). On that unique day (14:6-8), the peoples of the world will be gathered for judgment. Just think; as a Christian you will be there. There you will be in your glorified body -mixing and mingling with OT saints and those believers in their non-glorified bodies. What a day that will be!
It’s Wednesday; Jesus will be crucified on Friday. Aren’t you glad He died for you—someone told you and you said yes!