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Author: Stephen Weller
557 words, 3 minutes read time

Message to the Goats

Scripture: Matthew 25:41-46

In the previous lesson King Jesus spoke to the group of sheep on his right; those who will inherit eternal life. In this lesson he will speak to the group of goats on his left.

^{Mt 25:41} “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. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ⁴³ 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.’

In contrast to the group of sheep who will inherit eternal life, we now focus on the group of goats located on his left, who are condemned to “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Notice that verses 42 and 43 are exactly the same as verses 35 and 36 but with one difference. The sheep did the things in the list, but the goats did not. Since they did not do these things for Jesus they are condemned because they are guilty of the sins of omission. In their defense the goats ask a question.

^{Mt 25:44} Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’

They wanted to know when they would have seen Jesus with these needs, and he responds.

^{Mt 25:45} Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Jesus answers their question in the same way he did when the sheep asked him the same question. Jesus points out to them the needs of those around them that they failed to meet and in so doing it was if they had failed to care for Jesus himself. This insensitivity is seen as evidence of unrighteousness in their hearts and are thus condemned to eternal punishment while the righteous will go into eternal life.

Conclusion

Jesus is indeed a unique person in human history. No other person has ever had or ever will have the qualifications that Jesus had to be the perfect sacrifice to die for our sin and provide for our salvation, thus diving humanity into two groups: those who will go into eternal life and those who will go away into eternal punishment.

The main road that everyone begins life on goes to eternal judgment, but along the way is a narrow road that branches off to the right through the narrow gate and on to eternal life. Along the main road are many signs reminding the traveler of the upcoming exit and its importance. Do not ignore the signs and pass by the narrow road that goes to heaven because if you continue down the main road you will suddenly be engulfed and blinded by the smoke from the fires of hell as you enter into its eternal captivity.