Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)
I am not a good memory verse guy. I tend to know where a lot of stuff is in the Bible, I just never give enough effort to knowing things word-for-word. The longest passage I ever memorized—for a class requirement—was this passage. And it was for a missiology course. I don’t think this is a text many evangelicals think of when they think of missions.
Here Jesus culminates His “be prepared” teaching by talking about the coming judgment at the end of time. How do you know if you are ready? Well, what is the standard by which people will be measured? They are going to be judged on their compassion and willingness to serve others, specifically the downtrodden, the poor, and the needy. So if you want to know if you are prepared to meet your maker, like the virgins who had plenty of oil and the servants who managed their talents well, ask yourself: “How is my compassion?”
How do you treat the poor? How do you approach the “other?” What do you think about refugees and immigrants? Do you give to the needy or should people be more responsible for themselves?
These are not the things one does or the attitudes one cultivates to earn acceptance. You either are this way or you are not. What makes you a sheep as opposed to a goat is your citizenship. And you don’t earn that citizenship, it is given to you, accepted by faith. If you are a follower of Jesus, He will change your heart into a compassionate one. If, instead, you find your Christianity more akin to the pharisees and the religious rule followers you might want to evaluate your preparedness.
Here Jesus culminates His “be prepared” teaching by talking about the coming judgment at the end of time. How do you know if you are ready? Well, what is the standard by which people will be measured? They are going to be judged on their compassion and willingness to serve others, specifically the downtrodden, the poor, and the needy. So if you want to know if you are prepared to meet your maker, like the virgins who had plenty of oil and the servants who managed their talents well, ask yourself: “How is my compassion?”
How do you treat the poor? How do you approach the “other?” What do you think about refugees and immigrants? Do you give to the needy or should people be more responsible for themselves?
These are not the things one does or the attitudes one cultivates to earn acceptance. You either are this way or you are not. What makes you a sheep as opposed to a goat is your citizenship. And you don’t earn that citizenship, it is given to you, accepted by faith. If you are a follower of Jesus, He will change your heart into a compassionate one. If, instead, you find your Christianity more akin to the pharisees and the religious rule followers you might want to evaluate your preparedness.
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