The Parable of the Sheep and Goats: Matthew 25:31-46
by Owen Borville
July 10, 2019
Bible
Jesus describes the parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25:31-46 as he strongly urges his followers to help the poor.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
The parable demonstrates the strong compassion that Jesus had for the poor and teaches that those who are able to help those in need and do not do so will be in danger of eternal punishment. Just as Jesus loved the poor and had compassion for the poor, we should also love the poor and have compassion for them.
This parable has also spurred discussion in Christian theology related to the requirements of entering heaven. While Christians and Biblical doctrine emphasize that good works alone cannot save one's soul or bring salvation, there must be faith also. However, theologians argue that faith causes one to desire to help the poor and that if one does not have the desire to help the poor, then that person is likely not spirit-filled and likely does not have the faith needed to reach salvation and enter heaven. Therefore, most Christians agree that helping the poor is a critical part of the faith and that works alone cannot bring salvation.
A born-again Christian that is spirit filled will have the compassion for the poor. James 2:17 says that "Faith without works is dead." Also, no one would help the poor unless they had compassion, the compassion that Jesus had for the poor. It takes faith for one to give away their money and material possessions for the poor. As one offers his or her offering to the poor, that person has faith that the poor are being helped and God will respect and bless that faith. James also asks: What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? (James 2:14).
by Owen Borville
July 10, 2019
Bible
Jesus describes the parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25:31-46 as he strongly urges his followers to help the poor.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
The parable demonstrates the strong compassion that Jesus had for the poor and teaches that those who are able to help those in need and do not do so will be in danger of eternal punishment. Just as Jesus loved the poor and had compassion for the poor, we should also love the poor and have compassion for them.
This parable has also spurred discussion in Christian theology related to the requirements of entering heaven. While Christians and Biblical doctrine emphasize that good works alone cannot save one's soul or bring salvation, there must be faith also. However, theologians argue that faith causes one to desire to help the poor and that if one does not have the desire to help the poor, then that person is likely not spirit-filled and likely does not have the faith needed to reach salvation and enter heaven. Therefore, most Christians agree that helping the poor is a critical part of the faith and that works alone cannot bring salvation.
A born-again Christian that is spirit filled will have the compassion for the poor. James 2:17 says that "Faith without works is dead." Also, no one would help the poor unless they had compassion, the compassion that Jesus had for the poor. It takes faith for one to give away their money and material possessions for the poor. As one offers his or her offering to the poor, that person has faith that the poor are being helped and God will respect and bless that faith. James also asks: What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? (James 2:14).
