Tag: Matthew 25:41-43
Sheep? Or goats?
Scripture reading for August 19th: Micah 5-7, Matthew 25
Matthew 25: 31-34 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on HIs glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
Jesus finished His last teaching before going to the cross by telling His disciples of His glorious return with all the angels. He told them how all nations would be gathered before His glorious throne and He would separate people, one from another into two groups. One group was the ‘sheep’ and was placed on His right hand. They were welcomed into the kingdom and blessed. The other group was the ‘goats’. They were placed on His left hand and then sent away into eternal punishment of fire along with the devil and his rebellious angels. The basis of this judgment was faith applied in obedience to God towards the sick, the imprisoned, and the poor and needy. Helping these is helping Christ the King!
Matthew 25:41-43 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.”
Prayer: Father God, without Your Word and Your Son, I would have no hope or understanding of Your desire to show compassion and kindness to lost mankind. I want to be in the ‘sheep’ group at the gathering of the nations. Help me to so live and follow You each day as to live by faith and fulfill Your will to show mercy and bring Good News to the lost.
Micah 7:18-19 “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”