Parable of Sheep and Goats

[Naaman]

I have been meditating on Matthew 25:31-46 for several days. How we treat the least among us is hpw we are treating Jesus. It's a sobering thought. While considering the parable, it further dawned on me that the majority of Jesus' miracles were done to help the afflicted. The disabled. Am I doing enough?

We also know that we are not saved thru works, though the parable could almost lead one to think so.

Is this parable basically Jesus communicating what James later tells us that faith without works is dead? Or is there something greater I am overlooking?

I'd appreciate any thoughts and insight.

God bless you all

 

[Naaman]

I will add that I view verse 34 "...inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world..." to be Jesus confirming the sheep are not there because of their works. If I am reading it correctly!

 

[Marilyn C]

I have been meditating on Matthew 25:31-46 for several days. How we treat the least among us is hpw we are treating Jesus. It's a sobering thought. While considering the parable, it further dawned on me that the majority of Jesus' miracles were done to help the afflicted. The disabled. Am I doing enough?

We also know that we are not saved thru works, though the parable could almost lead one to think so.

Is this parable basically Jesus communicating what James later tells us that faith without works is dead? Or is there something greater I am overlooking?

I'd appreciate any thoughts and insight.

God bless you all

Hi Naaman,

Interesting topic. Glad you said that we, (believers in the Body of Christ) as not saved by works.

Now it is always helpful to see who is talking to whom and when.

`When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ALL the NATIONS will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats.` (Matt. 25: 31 & 32)

So we are told it is the Lord who will be judging the NATIONS. The Body of Christ are the Ekklesia, called out from Israel and the NATIONS. We are not any more of the nations but the NEW MAN in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2: 15)

The timing is at the end of the trib, with the Lord judging which NATIONS looked after His brethren (the Jews) during that time. (Matt. 25: 40)
Those NATIONS will go into the millennium and learn the ways of the Lord. (Micah 4: 1 - 3)

 

[Major]

I have been meditating on Matthew 25:31-46 for several days. How we treat the least among us is hpw we are treating Jesus. It's a sobering thought. While considering the parable, it further dawned on me that the majority of Jesus' miracles were done to help the afflicted. The disabled. Am I doing enough?

We also know that we are not saved thru works, though the parable could almost lead one to think so.

Is this parable basically Jesus communicating what James later tells us that faith without works is dead? Or is there something greater I am overlooking?

I'd appreciate any thoughts and insight.

God bless you all

Our sister "Marylin" is correct.

The context and focus of your question is on the Jews who are in the Tribulation Peroid.

All those on earth at that time will be brought before the Lord, and He will separate them “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left” (verses 32–33).

The sheep are those who were saved during the tribulation; the goats are the unsaved who survived the tribulation.

Now, from what you stated, we can see that God speaks to us and In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, we are looking at man redeemed and saved, and man condemned and lost. I can understand how you anyone would think that at A casual reading it seems to suggest that salvation is the result of good works. This is exactly why we can not "cherry pick" a Scripture and stand on it.

The “sheep” acted charitably, giving food, drink, and clothing to the needy. The “goats” showed no charity. This seems to result in salvation for the sheep and damnation for the goats.

May I go on to say that the good works mentioned in the parable are not the cause of salvation but instead are the effect of salvation.

The core message of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats for us to learn today is that God’s people will love others. Good works will result from our relationship to the Shepherd. Followers of Christ will treat others with kindness, serving them as if they were serving Christ Himself. The unregenerate (lost) live in the opposite manner. While “goats” can indeed perform acts of kindness and charity, their hearts are not right with God, and their actions are not for the right purpose – to honor and worship God.