The Parable Of The Sheep and the Goats

Matthew 25:31-46:

So before all nations, all people everywhere, Jesus will make the Last Day difference clear by our everyday difference. To those on his right, Jesus will say, “You did this… you did this… you did this…,” but to those on his left, he will reveal their completely opposite ways and say, “You did not… You did not…you did not…” Along with faith come fruits of love for God and his will. Along with unbelief are its fruits of enmity and hatred of God’s will. Such differences will be clear to everyone.

But he doesn’t just show the difference in outward action. There’s also a difference in their hearts. Isn’t it interesting that King Jesus would have each side answer him and respond? Why would Jesus include their comments at such a decisive moment? Because it’s part of the evidence. He wants us to see not just what they did, but the difference that was in their hearts when they did it.

Those sheep on the right were surprised at what Jesus said. In their minds, they had no list or record of good things they had done. They had humility in their hearts. They loved because God is love, not because of who was watching. They were thinking of other’s benefit. But the goats on the left were also surprised – they figured they had no failure, that their record should’ve looked better than that. They had pride in their hearts and focused on themselves.

Behold the great difference between a believer and unbeliever in both the heart and their activity. Jesus teaches us these Last Day differences to encourage us to live out the difference with fruits. Be who we are now and forever. As our lesson from 1 Thessalonians put it, “you are sons of light…you belong to the day” – so then, let us not be like others, but rather be self-controlled and put on confident faith, and love and hope…Now let us bear the fruit of who we are in Christ!

How sweet it is to hear Jesus’ call of grace to his sheep on the Last Day. Rejoice in the prepared gift of heaven waiting for you. Live in that joy now by offering your life to Jesus your Lord who bought you with his blood. Let your whole life be one of thanksgiving and praise and glory to God. Let everything you do be the fruit of who you really are in Jesus Christ, your coming King. For the Last Day difference starts today. Amen.