The Sheep and The Goats

[GraftMeIn]

We can see by the following scriptures that Jesus will separate His Sheep from the goats when he returns. The sheep will go to the right and the goats to the left.

Matthew 25:31-33 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Matthew 25:34 shows us that the sheep who are set on the right will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

In Matthew 25:41 we can see that the goats on the left will be tossed into an everlasting fire with satan.

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Reading Matthew 10:16 should show us, that Jesus sends us out as sheep, and gives us orders to be not only wise, but also harmless.

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

If we are sent out as sheep then how should we be conducting ourselves as Christians?

By taking goats and sheep and comparing their characteristics to one another I think it can tell us allot about how we as Christians can apply these characteristics to the way we live our very own lives. The difference between goats and sheep contrast greatly.

What are some of the different characteristics you can see between these two animals, and what are some ways we can apply them to the way we live our own lives?

 

[The Simple Plan]

GMI, aren't goats stubborn and resistant, whereas sheep are passive and listen to the voice of the shepherd?

Dave

 

[Gerry]

When I first saw your question I had to smile! While Lamb can be prepared in may ways, goats are only good barbequed! lol Kinda fits, eh?

 

[GraftMeIn]

Good observation Dave! Yes sheep do listen to the voice of the shepherd, As should we! May we all learn not to be stubborn and resistant like the goats.

ROFL Gerry! It is so very fitting indeed! I for one do not wish to be roasted over that open flame

 

[Gerry]

Ya know goats will eat most anything that doesn't eat them first. Things that are in fact unhealthy for a living thing to eat. Goats will happily dine all day on a meal of briars and thorns. Whereas sheep will not touch such a diet. They will only eat the lush grass and clean things.

Same with the human variety of goats and Sheep. The goats fill thier minds and bodies with unhealthy things that are dirty and unclean, whereas the Sheep fill thier minds and hearts with the deeper things of God!

 

[GraftMeIn]

Excellent point Gerry! May God keep our hearts and minds on him.

Ever notice how goats are always butting their heads together? You'll never see sheep doing that!

Aren't we only butting our heads together like goats if we simply gather together and argue over Gods Word?

 

[Gerry]

Originally posted by GraftMeIn
Excellent point Gerry! May God keep our hearts and minds on him.

Ever notice how goats are always butting their heads together? You'll never see sheep doing that!

Aren't we only butting our heads together like goats if we simply gather together and argue over Gods Word?

Oh YEAH! GOOOOOD one!!! That is exactly it! That is why I don't like apolegetics. There is nothing there except incessant head butting and senseless arguing! Nothing edifying about that!

 

[GraftMeIn]

Yes Gerry, It's especially bad when christians are argueing with each other in that area. I wonder if others laugh and say, ha ha ha look at those silly goats butting heads Ok maybe it's not that funny, but that's what I do when I see goats butting heads, kind of laugh and wonder why in the world do they do that!

I notice goats also trample things underfoot, the ground becomes bare and muddy where they've been.

 

[aaron]

Also, another comparison is that of just the sheep. We are all God's children and the Shepherd's flock. We are all His sheep. Now from what I have seen sheep can be VERY stupid and ignorant, just like some of mankind. How the sheep act depends on the shepherd. If the sheep is following the true Shepherd he can be very wise and listen to His word. But if they are following a bad shepherd (or a wolf in lambs clothing) than they are not going to be attentive but are going to live a life of ignorance. The sheep knows as much as the shepherd has taught them and some have been lead by the wrong shepherd and refuse to admit to it.

Aaron

 

[GraftMeIn]

Awesome observation Aaron! Yes we must learn to listen to the one true shepherd who is none other than Jesus! Only then will we be able to spot those wolves in sheeps clothing.

Thanks so much for adding that

 

[KnightCross]

"Ever notice how goats are always butting their heads together? You'll never see sheep doing that!"

I hate to say this, but some of you have never lived on a farm...

Generalizing here a bit, goats tend to have a worse temper than sheep, sheep usually tend to be mild mannered compared to goats. Goats will tend to eat worse things, be more ornery, and more likely to chase the unwary human. For some reason, however, the males of both species tend to be a lot more "bull-headed" than the females...

Cheers and God Bless!

 

[sbbqb7n16]

Goats aren't normally white... (white purified)

 

[GraftMeIn]

Originally posted by KnightCross
"Ever notice how goats are always butting their heads together? You'll never see sheep doing that!"

I hate to say this, but some of you have never lived on a farm...

Generalizing here a bit, goats tend to have a worse temper than sheep, sheep usually tend to be mild mannered compared to goats. Goats will tend to eat worse things, be more ornery, and more likely to chase the unwary human. For some reason, however, the males of both species tend to be a lot more "bull-headed" than the females...

Cheers and God Bless!

I have lived on a farm I've also owned goats, I can honestly tell you that the females can be just as bull headed as the males. They butt heads together just as much as the males do.

I have to laugh at the comment about goats chasing the unwary human  That is so true! turn your back on them for one second and they sneak up on you and give you a good butt, or they try to eat the clothing off your back.

May we learn to be ever so aware of those goats who try to eat away our Spiritual Armor.

 

 

[GraftMeIn]

Originally posted by sbbqb7n16
Goats aren't normally white... (white purified)

Good one!

Most sheep are white, and we are purified by the blood of Christ.

 

[aaron]

Originally posted by sbbqb7n16
Goats aren't normally white... (white purified)

actually not really. If you look at them most of them are a dirty white. The only ones that are pretty much all white are the lambs. There are many that are white but still many that appear white from the distance are not full white. Guess that could tell you something about Christians too.