The Sheep and the Goats | Matt 25:31-46

Jesus speaks a message of hope and warning about the coming judgment of believers and unbelievers, both righteous and unrighteous among the nations. This is a meticulous verse by verse walk-through of Matthew 25:31-46.

For many centuries Jesus’s words have echoed among readers of Scripture. As they contemplate parables and biblical passages to make distinctions between two types of people that Jesus our Messiah spoke about. They are both Jews and Gentiles, those who believe and accept Christ and those who do not. They are those who have embraced Him in faith and repentance and choose to live a life of service and mercy toward others who are suffering or in need. As Jesus spoke of the Sheep and Goats in our exegetical passage, it is a lasting source of motivation and warning about judgment to come. This verbal illustration is an urgent message to readers of Scripture who listen in on what Jesus told His disciples about what is to happen at the “end of the age.”  It is urgent because it is a preview of what impending judgment looks like. It is what will happen as also written about during the life of Jesus. In the gospel of John, Jesus spoke these words to the religious leaders during the second temple period who were critical of Him:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment (John 5:25-29 ESV).”

As a matter of theological principle and inescapable reality, this is the glory or the pressure to comprehend and act upon. It is especially concerning the Lord’s judgment upon people, depending upon your perspective. These are the circumstances Jesus informs us about concerning coming judgment. His message in Scripture pertains to everyone as each of us will one day pass into eternity.

Historical and Scriptural Context

This section of Scripture is referred to as the Eschatological Discourse, or more popularly as the Olivet Discourse. It is the second half of a full discourse beginning in chapter 24 just before this section. It references Jesus’s end times messages about the destruction of the temple, His second coming, and exhortations to remain ready (Mt. 24:1-31) for His return. To set up the scene, we must go back to the time and location to get a fuller sense of meaning in this passage. Just before the Lord’s death between 27-30 AD,¹ He met with His apostles on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem while just across from the Kidron valley. From their vantage point, they could see across the valley and into Jerusalem. In full view of the temple, they were together listening to Jesus speak about the end times and His parables.

Matthew was present during the time of Jesus’s teaching with His followers. Matthew was an eyewitness and direct listener of what Jesus said. As recorded in the book of Matthew from that time period, we have a first-person account of what was spoken by Jesus. Once He and His disciples came up to the Mount of Olives, they saw the temple and the surrounding buildings within Jerusalem. Without inquiry, Jesus proclaims that the temple will undergo destruction as “not one stone shall be left here upon another (Mt. 24:1-2).” Jesus was apparently in distress from Matthew 23 during His interaction with the religious leaders of Jerusalem. More specifically, Matthew 23:1-33 gives precise detail about why Jesus was rightfully upset. His people, the Lord’s people, had rejected Him as prophesied (Ps. 118:22, Is. 53:3) when He had longed to gather them to Himself. He, in turn, proclaimed, “your house is left to you desolate,” and worse yet, “you shall see Me no more.” The glory of the Lord has left the temple, and the people of Israel shall see it (Him) no more.  

The conflict with the Jewish people leading up to their confrontations with Jesus involved His claims that He is equal with God (Jn 5:18). These claims were contradictory to their expectations and view who and what the Messiah should be. He was expected to be a normal man of great stature and power, but not divine in origin to redeem people from their sins and usher the Kingdom of God to the world. The religious, political, and social tensions between the Jews, the Romans, and Christ were recorded in contrast to Jesus’s continuing mission and their prophetic assertions made over thousands of years prior.

The parables immediately spoken after Jesus’s final encounter in the temple with religious leaders were about the end times. As asked by His apostles, they wanted Jesus to inform them about when destruction would come, what signs to watch, and when He will return (Mt. 24:3). With very little time before Jesus is taken to trial and crucifixion, He sets forward instructions and warnings that will remain permanently forged into the minds of millions of people. People who have not rejected Him but have accepted His words with gratitude, love, and due humility as He is worthy of all worship, honor, and glory.

This is the backdrop by which Jesus delivers a series of parables after He left the temple and ascended the Mount of Olives. He laments over Jerusalem (Mt. 23:37-39), He predicts the destruction of the temple (Mt. 24:1-2), He informs His disciples about the end of the age (Mt. 24:3-14), He warns of the Great Tribulation and false messiahs (Mt. 24:15-28), He reveals the details about His second coming (Mt. 24:29-31), and He exhorts His followers to be fruitful and wait for His return with their good work for the Kingdom (Mt. 24:32-25:30). While He was likely hurt and felt rejected by His people, His extraordinary love, mercy, and grace came through the clear detail of how His people should prepare for the times ahead.

Exegetical Content

I.) Jesus arrives in His glory to separate all nations before Him (v. 31-33).

³¹ “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. ³² “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; ³³and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

The parable begins with a conjunction “But when” in the NASB to indicate that what Jesus said just prior is of relevance to the forthcoming message. Nearly all other translations exclude the conjunction word “But” as a transitional expression. Namely, the primary particle term “δέ” does not translate to English except for a rendering in Strong’s dictionary as a connective, continuative, or adversative term.² So while the ESV, NIV, KJV, NKJV, NET, RSV, NRSV, and NCV translations do not indicate a transition from the prior parables Jesus spoke, the NASB, NLT and ASV translations do. Therefore, the definitive authority by which the Greek term is conjunctive as “δέ” for “But when” is uncertain without substantial analysis among manuscripts. This means that the transition from prior parables on the Mount of Olives is tentative if we are to accept the weight of meaning in the NASB, ASV or NLT over the other translations.

The prior context favors the conjunctive transition of this parable in Matthew 25:31-46 as a way to get a fuller meaning of what Jesus said. Then more critically, the outcomes or consequences of what He meant as Matthew gave his firsthand eyewitness account. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 just before also spoke of a comparative scenario between those who were entrusted by the Lord’s literary proxy and what happens when there is favor or disfavor. In a natural setting between a man and his servants (Mt. 25:14-30) as compared to the Lord and His servants (Mt. 25:31-46). Therefore, in the pure meaning of Jesus’s words, taken in context as a whole, we are given confidence about what He was speaking during His continued eschatological discourse on the Mount of Olives. We are then free to understand and live out the connected truth of the remaining verses found in this passage.

As recorded in the gospel of Matthew, the Apostles asked Jesus about signs about the end times. What will occur, what they were to watch for, and what shall happen at the time they were concerned about (Mt. 24:3). In response, Jesus elaborates with His remarkable and concrete revelation about His return. He has said, when He returns to the earth at His second coming, He will reign as King. He will return in His glory accompanied by angels with Him. Jesus, the Son of Man, to assume His seat of power and judge individuals separately among all the nations that appear before Him. All nations of people gathered in voluntary or involuntary acknowledgment and submission before Him (Phil. 2:10). All together, they are gathered and become separated into two groups as a Shepherd separates His sheep and His goats.  

Notice the translated words reference a separation of sheep from goats. After all the people are assembled, the sheep among them become extracted or removed and set apart as a specific group before Jesus. The wicked people were unbelievers represented as goats and the Lord’s people as sheep that were “the sheep from the goats.” The sheep as submissive, gentle, and easily persuaded as compared to the stubborn, egotistical, and wild nature of goats. Positionally, the goats will go to the left while the sheep will go to the right of the Judge and King of nations. The right side to which represents favor and honor.³

II.) Righteous and blessed people of the Father are accepted into the Kingdom (v. 34-36).

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; ³⁶ naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

Once the separation is made between the people of nations, Jesus as King begins to communicate in judgment of both believers who accept Him and unbelievers who reject Him. As by evidence in what they did and didn’t do. Evidence that indicates the nature of their relationship with Jesus and the Father. Just as this discourse follows the rejection of Jesus by religious leaders (Mt. 23:1-36), they are condemned among the wicked as those who were people seemingly in a right relationship with God but were not. The goats in total were a people who are outright unbelievers and those who are not authentic believers at His second coming. By comparison, genuine believers are depicted as sheep in Scripture called to inherit the blessing of the King’s kingdom (Mt 9:36, 10:6, 15:24, 18:12, 26:31).⁴

The righteous and wicked people were made to stand in the presence of Jesus upon His second coming as foretold (Dan. 7:13-14). Jesus will speak judgment while the Holy angels are with Him, while the goats and creation shall witness the decree of Jesus as King of all that is His. All shall recognize and understand the blessings of the sheep. That genuine believers as sheep were those “blessed of My Father,” the subjects of the Lord’s doing. They are a people who are bestowed a spiritual blessing in Christ as written about by the Apostle Paul (Eph. 1:3). These people are those who were brought into the Kingdom as their access was pre-planned before the beginning of the world. The passage doesn’t provide specific identities of people, but rather a people as a whole who would believe and accept Jesus (i.e., sheep) by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9).  

The phrase in this passage, “prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” has far-reaching theological significance. A keyword here is “foundation,” which transliterates as the root Greek word “katabolē.” It is a word reference with the root meaning to “conceive of” with a “foundation.” To lay an initial plan, especially concerning a creative effort. The term “refers to the basis God has established, upon which all people can know Him. This was laid down before the first ray of sunshine or drop of water touched the earth.”⁵ What is incredibly astonishing is that this foundation-plan was designed and set before the world was formed.

Moreover, the inheritance was then prepared for His people, the sheep in this passage, at the setting of this foundation Jesus spoke about to His disciples. That there is this path of access to the kingdom of God. It is through belief, as evidenced by what His people do to care for others.

III.) Righteous believers are surprised by their good works for the Lord (v. 37-39).

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ³⁸ ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ³⁹ ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

The closest in context meaning of the term “righteous” in this passage articulates the idea of a person characterized with righteous actions and morals. Yet, in this sense, the righteous are represented as a group of people and not only a single person. Even though each person is judged individually, they together answer the King with questions about when He was helped and cared about. The repeated word in this verse is the term “when.” Comparatively, not as “how” or “where,” but “when” to indicate a desire for a specific time reference. The time interest suggests that if they knew each specific instance in their past, the details about who, where, what and how should follow.

Of substantial theological relevance, Dr. John MacArthur wrote by commentary of this section in Matthew as follows, “The deeds are not the basis for their entrance into the kingdom, but merely manifestations of God’s grace in their lives. They are the objective criteria for judgment because they are evidence of saving faith (Js 2:14-26).”⁶ The fact that the righteous did not have specifics about when their good works were performed, they were not relied upon for their justification and salvation. What they did without conscious effort did not justify themselves. Instead, they became rewarded for their efforts as an outcome of the faith that saved them. By so much that their identity in Scripture was “the righteous.”

IV.) What righteous believers did for the Lord’s people is what they did for Jesus (v.40).

⁴⁰ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ “

Jesus, as Judge and King, answers the questions of His people. With a response about who it was, they as the righteous had helped. It was not a response about “when” they helped people by their charity and good works. So, in responding this way, Jesus answered the question of the righteous sheep more directly and in no uncertain terms. By the King’s volition, He explains, in a surprising way. Those who were there among them, the sheep set apart, were His brothers. They loved and cared for one another — even those who were of the least in social stature, notoriety, or economic status. When there was a need for help among them, they were in unity; they were loved and looked after. The word is given in the Greek for “brothers” is ἀδελφός or ho adelphon or adelphoi which is to mean, a believing brother or siblings (brothers and sisters) (Mt. 28:10, Jn. 20:17, Rom 8:29, Heb 2:11). Remarkably, Jesus reveals that their righteousness applied to others was to Him as well.

V.) Wicked unbelievers before the Lord are condemned to eternal fire (v. 41-43).

⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; ⁴² for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’

In full view of what Jesus said will transpire, the wicked and unbelieving people shall hear what is to befall them in judgment. Jesus speaks to the people, or goats as they are called, and He tells them to depart from His presence. This is the same phrase that appears in Matthew 7:23 when Jesus earlier tells the workers of lawlessness to depart from him. While the phrase “Depart from Me” appears in this passage (v.41), it also appears in Matthew 7:23 as having a further reference to Psalm 6:8. Jesus quotes Scripture in the Matthew 7:23 instance to reference the Psalm, but not here in verse 41. As it is written in the Psalm of David, “Depart from me, all you who do iniquity.”

So, it is explicit that by knowing Jesus in Matthew 7:23, He was loved by helping, comforting, serving, and relieving others of pain and suffering. Specifically, those affected who were His adelphoi (believer siblings) as spoken earlier in this passage.

It is necessary to reiterate that the nations spoken about in this passage are those who are in the Tribulation. They are present as Jesus again returns to earth in His glory. While the context here is concerning specific individuals among all the nations, the theological principle of accountability holds for believers and unbelievers throughout history. As there will be a separate Great White Throne judgment that takes place according to Scripture (Rev. 20:11-15), this prior judgment of the nations is an indication of what is to come among all people both dead and alive. Not just those who are present in judgment at the Lord’s second coming (the sheep & the goats). This judgment at the Lord’s second coming is a glimpse of the final judgment in the distant future. Everyone, according to Scripture, shall be judged by what he or she has done. That is, specifically, those who believe in Jesus, love Him, and by faith act upon what He has commanded. As compared to those who get judged by their actions and do not believe in Christ to simply live for themselves.

The reference of condemnation here pertains to accursed individuals. Notice as compared to verse 34, the “of My Father” phrase is absent from the condemnation to suggest their eternal demise is self-inflicted. Their destination is into everlasting punishment. In contrast to what the prophet Daniel wrote about the end times, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt (Dan. 12:2).” So, both in the Old Testament and the New, there is a difference between the destination of people groups as reiterated with specificity from Jesus in His discourse on the Mount of Olives.

In 2 Peter 2:4, the Apostle Peter makes a remarkable and punctuated point about how God did not spare the devil and his angels, but instead, He cast them into hell. They became bound by the chains of darkness as a place committed to them due to their sin. It is this place that Jesus refers to in His illustration about the sheep and the goats (v.41). A form of due punishment expressed as a place of fire, this is a place of an eternal burning, or an everlasting consuming fire as again spoken about in many places throughout Scripture (Mk. 9:48, Lk. 16:24, Jude 7). Those who became separated to the left of Jesus for judgment get condemned in the presence of everyone there. It is speculative, but inferential that the angels who arrived with Jesus (v.31) have a role in gathering the people together, setting up the separation, with finally the removal and placement of people at their destination of either heaven (the kingdom) or hell (eternal fire).   

As the wicked are driven into darkness and eternal torment, Jesus declares the reasons for their destruction. There were sins of omission and rejection of Christ together committed during a lifetime period of grace. His specifics made plain the absence of what the righteous did by explicit communication. Jesus intended to mean what He said in verses 35-36. Jesus exacted the right and effective judgment against the wicked because they did not demonstrate a love for people. To care for the sick, feed His sheep (Jn 21:17), and visit the persecuted, or captive in prison. These were the specifics that communicate the necessity of loving and caring for those who are in need. To the eternal condemnation of those who do not, they are permanently and eternally separated as they leave the Lord or depart the King’s presence.  

VI.) Wicked unbelievers are surprised by their lack of good works for the Lord (v. 44-45).

⁴⁴“Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ ⁴⁵“Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

It is incredible that verses 44-45 are a mirror image of 35-36 yet were spoken together precisely about what explains the judgment and eternal demise of the wicked. These pronouncements of Jesus were a testimony of what the people would not do to care, help, and serve others. More specifically, these are the people who would not extend mercy to the remnant population of Jewish believers during the Tribulation.⁷ They are not the “brothers of Mine” that Jesus spoke about in verse 40. Their condemnation was unambiguous as Jesus made His comparison before everyone present in the coming judgment. The sheep population helped others as those who are righteous, while it is the very same thing that the goats would not or did not do. Since it was the nations gathered before Jesus, they were not just professing believers who became separated from genuine believers. It is everyone who appears in judgment at the second coming of Jesus, the Messiah.

VII.) Wicked unbelievers enter punishment. Righteous believers enter eternal life (v. 46).

As prophesied by the prophet Isaiah (Is 53:1), we see through the course of history, a divine decree about what is to become of those who accept Him, repent and bear the fruit of their faith. Conversely, those who profess that they belong to Christ without receiving Him in faith will perish. In either case, where their works reveal redemption or a lack thereof. Both groups shall “go away” to a destination and state of being due to their temporal condition and circumstances. Either to an eternity of punishment, or reward.

⁴⁶ “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The reward for the righteous is more specific as it is a life of far better quality with Jesus in His kingdom. In contrast, the punishment of wicked unbelievers who reject Jesus becomes driven to where the Devil and his angels are. Two outcomes, two domains, with God in everlasting happiness, satisfaction, contentment, joy, and glory (Mt. 19:29; Jn.3:15f, 36; 5:24; 6:27, 40, 47, 54; 17:2f; Acts 13:46, 48; Rom 2:7; 5:21; 6:23; Gal. 6:8, 1 Jn. 5:11). While the other, according to Jesus, the prophets, and apostles, is unspeakable misery, pain, and torment (Dan. 12:2, John 5:29, Acts 24:15).

Application

Where the gospel is shared, believers and unbelievers today have an unmistakable and clear opportunity to accept Christ and serve Him well by caring for others who are in need. Most notably, by caring for those who are of the faith, those He considers His siblings (Heb 2:11). This is an imperative given to us in Jesus’s answer to His apostles on the Mount of Olives. His words must resonate with us today to act upon them. As Scripture speaks to us about the sheep and the goats, we understand true meaning about judgment to come. What is to come when we all appear before the Lord to account for our actions or omissions. This specific theological principle explicitly informs us that we are each accountable. For our relationship to and acceptance of Jesus and what it is we do to help, comfort, and serve others.

As a practical matter, to reflect God’s love upon us, we are to love one another by what we do in terms of charity, giving, selflessness, volunteer work, missions, ministry, how we conduct ourselves during employment, in family life, and so forth. Take an interest in sharing your faith to strangers. Encourage your family members with words of Scripture. Give money to causes that support the Lord’s kingdom. Give money to those in poverty, in prison, or who are homeless because you may not know who belongs to the Lord and who does not. Pray about what you can do with conviction which testifies of your love and faith in Christ. Make it your practice to love others well. Not only because of the reward Jesus speaks to us about, but because as He loved us, we are to love others. By doing so, we demonstrate in full assurance that it is He who recognizes our love for Him.

If you are looking for an opportunity to care for others, in one of many innumerable ways, please consider Compassion International. This is an organization that teaches a Christ-centered life while alleviating poverty in numerous locations. You can sponsor a child, or give as desired as your heart leads.

Bibliography

¹ Rose Book of Bible & Christian History Timelines. (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers)
² A Concise Dictionary of the Words in The Greek New Testament and The Hebrew Bible with their Renderings in the Authorized English Version. (2009) (Logos Research Systems, Inc.), term #1161
³ John Peter Lange and Philip Schaff, A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Matthew. (Logos Research Systems, Inc.), Part 5, Section 5, Exegetical and Critical
⁴ English Standard Version, Classic Reference Bible: 2016. (Crossway Bibles, Good News Publishers). Footnotes: Matthew 25:31-46
⁵ Helps^TM Word Studies, 2011. Helps Ministries, Inc. (https://biblehub.com/greek/2602.htm)
⁶ John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible 2^nd Edition NKJV, 2019. (Thomas Nelson Publishers), 1310
⁷ John F. Walvoord and Roy B Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Sixth Printing, 1986. (Victor Books, SP Publications), 81