The Sheep and the Goats: A Heart Transformed by Grace

Text: Matthew 25:31-46

Beloved in Christ, the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 is one of the most striking teachings of Jesus about the final judgment. It paints a vivid picture of Christ returning in glory, separating people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep are welcomed into His kingdom, while the goats are sent away into eternal punishment.

At first glance, this passage may seem to teach that our final destiny depends on our works—whether we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and visited the imprisoned. However, we must interpret Jesus’ words in the broader context of Scripture, which consistently teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). So, how do we reconcile this passage with the gospel of grace?

Works as the Evidence, Not the Basis, of Salvation

Jesus is not teaching that these acts of kindness earn salvation. Rather, they are the natural fruit of a life transformed by His grace. The sheep are not saved because they served the least of these; they serve the least of these because they are saved. Their good works are the outflow of a genuine faith, a heart changed by Christ.

James 2:26 reminds us that "faith without works is dead." This does not mean works save us, but that true faith will inevitably bear the fruit of love and compassion. Just as an apple tree produces apples because it is alive, not to make itself alive, so the sheep serve others because they have received new life in Christ.

The Goats’ Problem: A Heart Unchanged

The goats, on the other hand, are not condemned simply because they failed to do good works. Their lack of compassion reveals a deeper issue—the absence of a transformed heart. They may have professed faith, but their lives showed no evidence of it. Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father."

The will of the Father is not just outward obedience but a heart that loves God and loves others. The goats' indifference toward the suffering of others is proof that they never truly knew Christ.

The Sheep Know the Shepherd

A key detail in the passage is the humility of the sheep. They are almost surprised that their acts of kindness mattered so much. This is because their good works were not done to earn favor with God but were the natural response of a heart transformed by knowing Christ.

Jesus identifies Himself with “the least of these.” When we belong to Him, our love for Him overflows into love for others. We serve not out of duty but out of delight in our Savior.

Conclusion: A Call to Examine Our Hearts

This passage is not a lesson on salvation by works, but a call to self-examination. Have we truly trusted in Christ? If so, the evidence will be seen in how we love and serve others. Our works do not save us, but they testify to the faith that does.

May we, by God’s grace, be counted among His sheep—not by our own righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ working in us, for His glory and the good of others. Amen.

More: Lesson 13 Love Is the Fulfillment of the Law

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