No doubt, someone may automatically think of a farmer who has sheep and goats. A farmer will usually separate the two so that he has more control over them and helps to keep track of them. Sheep are genuinely docile animals and will follow where they are led.
Goats, on the other hand, can be hardheaded and stubborn. Hmm, that sounds a lot like humans. But today, we are looking at a parable of Jesus.
What Is the Parable of Sheep and Goats?
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is using sheep and goats to talk about the final judgment and a portion of its driving conditions.
There are not many sections in the entire Holy Bible more serious and soul-looking than this. We should read it with profound and sincere consideration that it merits.
On the day of judgment, God will separate His true believers from the actors and unbelievers. The genuine proof of our conviction is the manner in which we act. To treat all people that we come in contact with as though they are Jesus is no simple undertaking.
How we help others exhibits our opinion on Jesus' words to us (feed the hungry, give the destitute a place to sleep, visit the sick and afflicted). How well do our actions and activities distinguish us from the fakers and unbelievers?
Jesus utilized the sheep and the goats to show the difference between the believers and unbelievers. Sheep and goats frequently ate together. The farmers needed to guarantee there was plenty for them to eat because goats could get greedy and eat any and everything.
Ezekiel 34:17-24 speaks of separating the sheep and the goats. It also tells of God sending the perfect Shepherd who would tend to every need of his people.
This parable portrays actions of mercy that we as a whole can consistently do. These actions do not rely on financial abundance, capacity, ability, or intellect. They are basic demonstrations that are uninhibitedly given and freely received.
We have no good reason to disregard the people who have profound necessities, and we cannot give up this obligation to the local church congregation or government. Jesus requires our own contribution in focusing on the necessities of others (Isaiah 58:7).
Who are “the brethren?” There has been a lot of conversation about who “the brethren” are. It could be said that they are the Jews. Others might say that they are Christians. In any case, others might say that they are individuals who suffer all over the place.
Such a discussion is similar to the legal counselor's inquiry to Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). The place of this illustration is not about the who, yet the what. The what is the significance of serving where service is necessitated.
The focal point of this parable is that we ought to love one another (that means everyone) and serve anybody that we have the ability to. Such love for others extols and glorifies God by mirroring our affection for Him. This also means salvation from eternal punishment.
Everlasting punishment happens in hell, the place of punishment after death for every individual who will not repent (Matthew 5:29). In the Holy Bible, three words have been deciphered as “hell.”
1. Sheol is utilized in the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) to mean the grave, the spot of the dead, for the most part, to be under the earth (Job 24:19; Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 38:10).
2. Hades is the Greek name for the underworld, the domain of the dead. It is the word utilized in the New Testament for Sheol.
3. Gehenna was named for the Valley of Hinnom, close to Jerusalem, where kids were given to sacrifice by fire to the agnostic divine beings (2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3).
This is the spot of everlasting fire (Mark 9:43) that is ready for Satan, his demons, and for each individual who does not have faith in God (Revelation 20:9-10).
This is the last and everlasting condition of the evil following the resurrection and the last judgment.
Now that we have a basic breakdown let us look at a few other points.
Who Will Be the Judge on the Final Judgment Day?
Looking back at verse 31 in Matthew 25 tells us that the Son of man will sit upon His throne of glory. That same Jesus who was brought into the world in Bethlehem, in a manger, and took upon Himself the servants role, who was disdained, despised, and dismissed by men and frequently had no place to sleep, who was denounced by the sovereigns of this world, beaten, scourged, and nailed to the cross; that same Jesus will Himself judge the world when He comes in His glory.
To Jesus, the Father has committed all judgment (John 5:22). To Jesus, finally, every knee will bow, and each tongue confesses that He is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
The saved should think about this and take comfort in it. Jesus Christ, who sits upon His throne on that great and terrible day, will be their Shepherd, their Savior, their Lord, and King. They will have no reason to be afraid.
However, the unsaved should think about this and be terrified. Their judge will be that very person, Christ, whose gospel they currently detest and whose invitations they will not heed.
To face condemnation on the final Judgment Day by anybody would be repulsive. Yet, to be condemned by the One who could have saved them would be quite horrendous. Surrender and submit to the Son, so that He might not become angry (Psalm 2:12).
Who Will Be Judged on the Final Judgment Day?
Looking back at verse 32, we are told, “Before Him shall be gathered all nations.” Everyone that has ever lived will one day give a record of themselves at the bar of Christ. Everyone will comply with the call of the true King and approach to accept their verdict.
The people who would not believe and worship Christ on earth will find they will stand before Him on the final Judgment Day as He prepares to pass judgment on the world.
Everyone that is judged will be separated into two distinct classes. There will not be any differences between masters and servants or rulers and subjects. There will be no distinction of positions or denominations, “for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Grace or graceless, believer or unbeliever, faith or faithless will be the only difference on the final Judgment Day.
All who are found in Christ will be set among the sheep on His right hand. All who are not found in Christ will be put among the goats at His left.
What Will the Punishment Be on the Final Judgment Day?
On the final Judgment Day will be a judgment as per the testimony given, the evidence. The works of each individual will be the witness that will be presented.
The question that will be answered will not just be what we said but what we did, not just what we professed but what we practiced.
On the final Judgment Day will be a judgment that will give jubilation and rejoicing to every genuine believer.
They will hear those beloved words, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). They will be claimed and admitted by their Lord and Savior before His Father and the blessed heavenly messengers.
On the final Judgment Day will be a judgment that will convey bewilderment to every unbeliever. They will hear those terrifying words, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). They will be denied by the Master before the entire world.
What Will Be the End Result of the Final Judgment Day?
The Saved will hear joyous words of everlasting life, and the Unsaved will hear solemn words of everlasting punishment. These words can never be forgotten, they can never change, and the outcome will never end.
Who can define the righteousness of everlasting life? It exceeds man’s ability to comprehend.
Who can define the wretchedness of everlasting punishment? It is something absolutely incomprehensible and beyond words.
We sincerely need to take time for self-examination. We need to ask ourselves on which side of Christ are we going to be on the final judgment day.
Will we be on His right hand, or will we be on His left? We should not be able to rest until we can offer a good palatable response to this inquiry.
For further reading:
Why Does Judgment Begin in the House of God?
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