The Sheep and the Goats: Jesus’ Judgment and Love

Devotional

Day 1: The Final Judgment: The Sheep and the Goats

At the return of Christ, all nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats—sheep representing those who belong to Him, and goats those who do not. This moment is not a parable but a prophetic declaration of a real, future event where destinies are determined not by outward profession but by the evidence of a transformed life. The sheep are welcomed into the kingdom prepared for them, while the goats are sent away into eternal punishment, highlighting the seriousness and finality of this judgment. The passage calls each person to examine their heart and life, ensuring that their faith is genuine and evidenced by love for Christ and others. [29:33]

Matthew 25:31-34 (ESV)
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’”

Reflection: If Christ were to return today, would your life show the evidence of being among His sheep—those who truly belong to Him? What fruit in your life points to a genuine relationship with Jesus?

Day 2: Love for Christ Shown Through Love for Others

Jesus makes it clear that acts of compassion—feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned—done for “the least of these” are, in fact, done for Him. True faith is not merely a matter of words or religious activity but is demonstrated in tangible love for others, especially fellow believers. This love is not a means of earning salvation but is the natural outflow of a heart transformed by Christ, reflecting His love to the world. The absence of such love is evidence of a heart unchanged, while its presence is a mark of those who have truly received God’s grace. [49:34]

Matthew 25:35-40 (ESV)
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Reflection: Who is someone in your life right now—perhaps overlooked or in need—whom you can serve or encourage as if you were serving Christ Himself?

Day 3: Salvation by Grace, Evidenced by Good Works

Scripture teaches that salvation is not earned by good works but is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Christ. Yet, genuine saving faith will always result in a changed life, producing good works as evidence of that faith. The works themselves do not save, but they are the fruit of a heart that has been made new. This truth guards against both legalism and complacency, calling believers to walk in the good works God has prepared for them, not to earn His favor, but because they have already received it. [01:01:57]

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Reflection: What is one specific way you can step into a “good work” today—not to earn God’s love, but as a grateful response to the grace you’ve already received?

Day 4: The Urgency of Repentance and Faith in Christ

There is a sobering reality that judgment is coming, and each person must respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. God does not desire that any should perish but longs for all to come to repentance and faith. The call is urgent: to turn from sin, trust in Christ’s finished work, and receive the gift of eternal life. This is not about making oneself worthy, but about acknowledging the need for forgiveness and surrendering to the Savior. The time to respond is now, for there will come a day when it is too late. [59:17]

John 5:24 (ESV)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

Reflection: Have you truly repented and placed your faith in Christ alone for salvation? If not, what is holding you back from surrendering to Him today?

Day 5: Growing in Love for God and Others

The mark of a true believer is a growing love for God and for others, especially fellow believers. This love is not just a feeling or words, but is shown in practical actions—meeting needs, offering forgiveness, showing hospitality, and caring for those who are hurting. As God’s love fills our hearts, we become less self-focused and more attentive to the needs around us, reflecting Christ’s character to the world. Each day is an opportunity to grow in this love, becoming more like Jesus in how we treat others. [01:03:39]

1 John 3:17-18 (ESV)
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God calling you to grow in practical love for others this week, and what is one step you can take to act on that prompting?

Sermon Summary

Today’s passage from Matthew 25:31-46 draws us into the sobering and hope-filled reality of Christ’s return and the final judgment. Jesus paints a vivid picture of the Son of Man coming in glory, surrounded by angels, seated on His throne, and gathering all nations before Him. In this moment, He separates people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats—sheep to His right, goats to His left. This is not a parable in the strictest sense, but a prophetic illustration of the future, and it compels us to examine the fruit of our lives.

The sheep, those blessed by the Father, are welcomed into the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. Their inheritance is not earned by works, but their works—feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned—are evidence of a transformed heart. These acts are not grand gestures, but simple, tangible expressions of love for Christ, shown through love for His people. The sheep are surprised; they did not realize that in serving “the least of these,” they were serving Christ Himself.

In contrast, the goats are sent away into eternal punishment, not because of overt evil, but because of sins of omission—a lack of love, a failure to act. They, too, are surprised, not recognizing that neglecting Christ’s people was neglecting Christ. The judgment is not arbitrary; it is the outworking of what people have done with the gospel and how that faith (or lack thereof) is evidenced in their lives.

This passage is not teaching salvation by works. Rather, it affirms that genuine faith in Christ inevitably produces love and good works. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our own efforts, but saving faith is never alone—it is always accompanied by a growing love for God and others, especially fellow believers. The call is to self-examination: Does my professed faith manifest itself in sacrificial love? Am I growing in compassion, generosity, and service?

God’s heart is for all to come to repentance and life. The warnings of judgment are gracious invitations to turn to Christ, to receive forgiveness, and to walk in newness of life. For those who have believed, the encouragement is to continue growing in love, reflecting the character of our King as we await His return.

Key Takeaways

1. Genuine faith produces tangible love for others True saving faith is not a mere intellectual agreement or verbal confession; it is evidenced by a life increasingly marked by compassion, generosity, and service. The sheep did not earn their place by works, but their love for Christ overflowed in practical care for others, especially fellow believers. This is the natural fruit of a heart transformed by grace. [49:34]
2. Sins of omission reveal the heart’s condition The goats were not condemned for overt acts of evil, but for failing to love and serve. Neglecting the needs of others, especially Christ’s people, exposes a heart untouched by the gospel. Our indifference or inaction toward the suffering and needs around us is a sobering indicator of our spiritual state. [53:12]
3. Salvation is by grace, but faith is never alone We are not saved by our good works, but by grace through faith in Christ. Yet, true faith is always accompanied by good works—evidence of God’s workmanship in us. The distinction is crucial: works are not the root of salvation, but the fruit. A faith that does not transform is a faith that does not save. [61:57]
4. God’s desire is for all to repent and live The warnings of judgment are not given to crush hope, but to awaken us to God’s heart. He does not desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The door of grace remains open; the call is to turn to Christ, receive forgiveness, and walk in the life He offers. [57:11]
5. Love for Christ is shown in love for His people Jesus identifies Himself with “the least of these.” Our love for Him is most clearly demonstrated in how we treat others, especially those who belong to Him. Sacrificial, practical love is the mark of a true disciple and the evidence that we belong to the kingdom. [62:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:32] - Introduction and Context
[29:00] - Reading Matthew 25:31-46
[33:08] - The Son of Man’s Glorious Return
[35:13] - Understanding End Times Judgments
[36:40] - Early Church Views on the Millennium
[39:36] - The Role of Angels and the Church
[42:45] - Christ’s Throne and Authority
[44:12] - The Gathering and Separation of Nations
[47:23] - The King’s Invitation to the Sheep
[49:34] - Evidence of Faith: Serving Christ’s People
[51:57] - The Fate of the Goats
[53:46] - Eternal Destinies: Life or Punishment
[57:11] - God’s Heart: Warnings and Invitations
[62:39] - Love as the Mark of True Faith
[65:16] - Self-Examination and Application
[74:41] - Operation Christmas Child Update
[75:18] - Prayer for the Shoeboxes and Closing
[76:22] - Upcoming Series and Farewell

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 25:31-46 (ESV) —
> 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 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.’ 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?’ 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.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in this passage, what are the specific actions that the “sheep” did for “the least of these”? (vv. 35-36)
How do both the sheep and the goats respond when Jesus tells them what they did or didn’t do? What is their reaction? (vv. 37-39, 44)
What is the basis for the separation between the sheep and the goats in this passage? Is it about what they believed, what they did, or both? [49:34]
What does Jesus say about the eternal destinies of the sheep and the goats? (v. 46)

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the sheep are surprised to hear that they served Jesus when they helped others? What does this reveal about their motivation? [49:51]
The goats are not condemned for doing evil things, but for what they failed to do. What does this teach about the seriousness of “sins of omission”? [53:12]
The sermon emphasized that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, but that true faith always produces good works. How does this passage help us understand the relationship between faith and works? [01:01:57]
Jesus identifies himself with “the least of these.” What does this mean for how we view and treat other believers, especially those in need? [01:02:39]

Application Questions

The sheep’s acts of love were simple and practical—feeding, welcoming, clothing, visiting. Think about your past week: did you have any opportunities to show this kind of love? If so, what did you do? If not, what held you back? [49:34]
The goats were surprised by their judgment because they didn’t realize their neglect was neglecting Christ. Are there people or needs in your life that you tend to overlook? What would it look like to notice and respond to them this week? [53:12]
The sermon called us to self-examination: Does your professed faith show itself in sacrificial love? Are there areas where you see growth? Are there areas where you feel stuck or resistant? [01:05:16]
Sometimes we think of “serving Jesus” as something big or dramatic. How can you reframe your daily routines or small acts of kindness as service to Christ himself? [49:34]
The passage warns that indifference or inaction toward others is a sign of a heart untouched by the gospel. Is there a specific person or group (maybe in the church, maybe outside) that you sense God is prompting you to serve or care for? What is one step you can take this week? [53:12]
The sermon reminded us that God’s heart is for all to come to repentance and life. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear or see the love of Christ through you? How can you reach out to them? [57:11]
Jesus says our love for him is shown in how we treat “the least of these.” Who are “the least of these” in your context—your family, church, neighborhood, workplace? What is one practical way you can show love to them this month? [01:02:39]

Sermon Clips

Those who believe in Jesus, though, become a part of his body and so when these folks do something for someone who is a part of his body, they're doing so for him and the opposite is also true for those who do not repent and believe in Christ, they evidence that by not ministering to him via his people and therefore they do not inherit the kingdom and will suffer a different fate. Verse 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. [00:51:11] (36 seconds) #JudgmentAndGrace

Depart from me. You rejected me as Savior and Lord, as your king, then you have no part in my kingdom. You are therefore cursed. Notice the difference, though, in the description of where they are going. He didn't say that that place had been prepared for them like He said was going to those going into the kingdom. It was prepared for the devil and his angels. However, because the unredeemed choose to remain in their rebellion against the king, they suffer the same fate and it's going to be terrible. [00:51:47] (40 seconds) #GodDesiresRepentance

Same answer. 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. Same principle in reverse. By the way, you notice these are sins of omission. It's not that they were, He didn't even talk about them doing super evil things. It's like they just didn't do the right things and show love to His people, which was evidence of their not doing so to Him. [00:53:11] (35 seconds) #FaithLeadsToLife

By the way, you notice these are sins of omission. It's not that they were, He didn't even talk about them doing super evil things. It's like they just didn't do the right things and show love to His people, which was evidence of their not doing so to Him. And therefore, Jesus ended this quasi-parable and seemingly His entire passage, the response to His disciples with the words that still and will continue to echo throughout the ages. Verse 46. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. [00:53:25] (44 seconds) #SinsOfOmission

Some will experience their judgment at death, not their final one, but Hebrews 9, 27 is appointed for man just as it is appointed for man to die once and after that comes judgment. So that is the bad news, right? But the good news is this, God so loved the world, right? God loves the world. That word means those who are separated from Him, alienated from Him. And He doesn't desire that any should perish but that all should reach repentance. [00:56:40] (32 seconds) #GrowingInGrace

This is good and is pleasing in the sight of God, our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Likewise, 2 Peter 3, 9, the Lord is not slow to fulfill His promises as some count slowness, but He is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. [00:57:41] (34 seconds)

And so the greatest application of any time we're considering the gospel is repenting and believing in Christ. Everyone should do that and everyone should be sure that they are on the path of eternal life and this is how. John 5, 24, Jesus said, truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. [00:58:48] (29 seconds)

Ephesians 2, 8, through 10, for by grace you have been saved, so unmerited favor, through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast. But here's the kicker, verse 10, right? Same context, for we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. So we're not saved by our good works, of course, but saving faith leads to good works. [01:01:57] (30 seconds)

So we're not saved by our good works, of course, but saving faith leads to good works, which is what is the evidence of what Jesus was talking about in this passage today. And that just takes to our last application for today. Those who believe in Christ will evidence it by their love, well, for Him, I should have put first, and others, especially believers. Jesus said that people will know that we are His followers by our love for one another. John 13, 35. [01:02:21] (38 seconds) #FaithEvidencedByLove

Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth. Jesus' half-brother James wrote, James 2, 15 through 17, if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, go in peace, be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. [01:03:59] (27 seconds)

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