SHEEP & GOATS (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Theology] >> The Bible



Message

rmoore1925 -> SHEEP & GOATS (11/4/2009 12:20:09 AM)

When Jesus taught about the sheep and the goats, why do you suppose
those who were serving with compassion were surprised that they were in
fact serving Jesus as they served those in need (Matt. 25:37-40)?

[Edited by moderator - reduced font size for readability]



Liveloved -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/4/2009 1:51:08 AM)

I will be curious to see what others say. But I would think their 'surprise' is a result of their humility, a lack of any self awareness, and just doing as they ought to have done (such as the unworthy slaves in Luke 17). Perhaps this is the perfect illustration of the humble servant.



ChainSaw -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/4/2009 9:41:30 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rmoore1925

When Jesus taught about the sheep and the goats, why do you suppose
those who were serving with compassion were surprised that they were in
fact serving Jesus as they served those in need (Matt. 25:37-40)?

A relatively well known christian author lived in the same town as my family, and attended my mother's church. He would conduct seminars occassionally, and I sat in on one of them one time. He challenged the congregation to stump him with a question he couldn't answer. I asked him the very same thing you are asking here and included the fact that we already know ahead of time this will happen (because it's recorded for us in scripture) and yet will still wonder when we saw Jesus naked and hungry and unclothed. He rambled something about needing to know a lot of other information about this time in prophecy, blah, blah, blah to answer the question. (I have the feeling he doesn't challenge people to stump him anymore).

Anywho...I believe this is an example of not recognizing the Body of Christ, but in a good way. Unlike the goats in the passage, and the people of 1 Cor. 11 (who died prematurely for not "recognizing the body of the Lord", vs.29, and ate and drank judgement on themselves) who also did not recognize the suffering Body of Christ (his people in whom his Spirit dwells) and failed to respond properly.

It's an interesting passage of scripture, especially considering that we are taught right from the scriptures the truth about Christ and all his people being the members of his Body. Maybe it has something to do with not actually knowing who belongs to Christ, and who does not, as we live out the love of God in this world, like those who have "entertained angels without knowing it" in Heb. 13:2.



rcjames -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/4/2009 9:50:38 AM)

Well I guess I am as "Guilty" as the folks the OP wrote about.

When I do things for folks, I never think "OK Jesus, I am doing this to and for your", I just do it because it is part of my new nature, the outflowing of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that should flow from all Believers.

Now I will toss in the mix that there are those that think "Doing" things is not necessary (Because it is WORKS), but this beautifuls passage in Matthew seems to belay that idea.

Thanks
RC



LCannon -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/4/2009 12:00:14 PM)

'All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. (Matthew 25:32, 33)-'I do not know of an instance when God calls individuals goats. All human beings are called sheep. There are two kinds: lost sheep and saved sheep. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). There are lost sheep and saved sheep, not sheep and goats. I believe that the goats represent groups of nations.'(JVernon McGee)

The OP's contention(vss. 37-40)didn't support his argument.



mysteryofgospel -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/4/2009 1:25:57 PM)

Matthew 13:10,11,13

And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"

He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given."

13. "Therefore I speak to them in parables because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand."



rcjames -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/4/2009 3:42:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: LCannon

'All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. (Matthew 25:32, 33)-'I do not know of an instance when God calls individuals goats. All human beings are called sheep. There are two kinds: lost sheep and saved sheep. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). There are lost sheep and saved sheep, not sheep and goats. I believe that the goats represent groups of nations.'(JVernon McGee)

The OP's contention(vss. 37-40)didn't support his argument.


Interesting observation, but it just doen't seem to fit the whole of the parable.

Are nations to all be rejected, and are people to all be brought into Heaven; applying your analogy just does not compute.

He prefaces this action by saying that those before Him will be separated AS a shepherd separates his goats from his sheep. Two types before him; those that do as he says, and those that do not do as he says.

Now I know that this parable just gives a diaper rash to the OSAS crowd, but hey consider the goats as really never saved or they would have done the works that Christ speaks of.


Thanks
RC



Eutychus -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/4/2009 3:53:07 PM)

The goats and sheep have different natures. The only way for a goat to become a sheep is to be born again as a sheep (salvation). Since God isn't in the business re-birthing sheep back into goats, I can't see how they ever could have been sheep.

The goats and sheep are a variation on tares and wheat - the never saved and the saved.



Liveloved -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/4/2009 4:14:15 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

Well I guess I am as "Guilty" as the folks the OP wrote about.

When I do things for folks, I never think "OK Jesus, I am doing this to and for your", I just do it because it is part of my new nature, the outflowing of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that should flow from all Believers.

Now I will toss in the mix that there are those that think "Doing" things is not necessary (Because it is WORKS), but this beautifuls passage in Matthew seems to belay that idea.

Thanks
RC


Good toss, RC! I'll play 'catch'.[:D]

As you already illustrated by your own life, the works are just the outflow or byproduct of His life within. It is not conscious. It is not deliberate. It is life flowing out of one to another. Hence, the surprise when confronted by Jesus, 'you did this for Me'!

When? When did I do it for You, Lord?

This is my prayer. That when I stand before Him, He will say "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat. . .". And that I will be equally surprised.

What a lovely topic, rmoore1925. Thank you.[sm=hug.gif] LL



bob97 -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/5/2009 9:38:39 AM)

I think by the time the great tribulation of Revelation is over the separation will mostly be complete. Unless their names are written in the Lambs Book of Life they will believe a lie, following the man of sin and worshiping Satan.

I think a lot of people do these things because it is their nature but unless we do these things because be have the nature of Jesus Christ the efforts are in vain. Unless we have been marked by the Holy Spirit we will not be known.

2Co 1:22 and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us.


In Messiah,

Bob



dbark -> RE: SHEEP & GOATS (11/6/2009 10:44:36 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rmoore1925

When Jesus taught about the sheep and the goats, why do you suppose
those who were serving with compassion were surprised that they were in
fact serving Jesus as they served those in need (Matt. 25:37-40)?



It's a parable not an actual event - parables are stories designed to teach us a moral, so Jesus employs a literary device to teach that lesson - the people ask "Lord, when?" in order to set up the important point of the story - the moral ... "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."



Page: [1]



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI