The Great Separation
05/22/2025
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
- Matthew 25:31-32 (NIV)
There will come a day when every soul will stand before the King. Not as Americans or Africans, not as rich or poor, not as famous or forgotten, but simply as people who either belonged to Him or didn’t. That’s the moment Jesus describes in our verse today. It’s a powerful and sobering vision of the final judgment: a throne, a King, and a separation.
In ancient times, sheep and goats often grazed together, indistinguishable from a distance. But a shepherd knew the difference, just like Jesus does. The sheep represented those who followed the voice of the Shepherd, who lived lives marked by mercy, compassion, and obedience. The goats, on the other hand, represent those who ignored the Shepherd’s call, who may have looked the part but lacked a heart truly surrendered to Him.
This is not a parable about perfection, but about direction. It’s not about checking religious boxes, but about living with a heart aligned to God’s Kingdom. In the verses that follow, Jesus makes it clear that how we treat others, especially the “least of these,” reveals the condition of our hearts. Did we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned? Or did we turn away?
I heard of a man who owned multiple businesses and was deeply respected in the community. Yet every Sunday after church, he’d go to the local jail and simply listen to men who felt forgotten. He wasn’t trying to earn God’s favor, he was responding to it. He knew the Shepherd’s voice, and it led him to places most wouldn’t go. That’s the kind of life Jesus recognizes on that final day.
Here a re a few steps for you to take on your journey.
Take inventory, are you living more like a sheep or a goat?
Identify someone in need this week and serve them in a tangible way.
Ask God to soften your heart toward the “least of these.”
Live today as if you were standing before the throne tomorrow. Let your love be loud. Let your compassion be visible. Let your heart reflect your Shepherd.
Jesus, thank You for being both my Savior and my Shepherd. I want to follow Your voice and live in a way that brings joy to Your heart. Forgive me for the times I’ve walked past those You’ve called me to serve. Help me to see others through Your eyes, to love with Your hands, and to give without expecting in return. May I be found among Your sheep. Not because I’m worthy, but because You are full of grace. Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
- Matthew 25:31-32 (NIV)
There will come a day when every soul will stand before the King. Not as Americans or Africans, not as rich or poor, not as famous or forgotten, but simply as people who either belonged to Him or didn’t. That’s the moment Jesus describes in our verse today. It’s a powerful and sobering vision of the final judgment: a throne, a King, and a separation.
In ancient times, sheep and goats often grazed together, indistinguishable from a distance. But a shepherd knew the difference, just like Jesus does. The sheep represented those who followed the voice of the Shepherd, who lived lives marked by mercy, compassion, and obedience. The goats, on the other hand, represent those who ignored the Shepherd’s call, who may have looked the part but lacked a heart truly surrendered to Him.
This is not a parable about perfection, but about direction. It’s not about checking religious boxes, but about living with a heart aligned to God’s Kingdom. In the verses that follow, Jesus makes it clear that how we treat others, especially the “least of these,” reveals the condition of our hearts. Did we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned? Or did we turn away?
I heard of a man who owned multiple businesses and was deeply respected in the community. Yet every Sunday after church, he’d go to the local jail and simply listen to men who felt forgotten. He wasn’t trying to earn God’s favor, he was responding to it. He knew the Shepherd’s voice, and it led him to places most wouldn’t go. That’s the kind of life Jesus recognizes on that final day.
Here a re a few steps for you to take on your journey.
Take inventory, are you living more like a sheep or a goat?
Identify someone in need this week and serve them in a tangible way.
Ask God to soften your heart toward the “least of these.”
Live today as if you were standing before the throne tomorrow. Let your love be loud. Let your compassion be visible. Let your heart reflect your Shepherd.
Jesus, thank You for being both my Savior and my Shepherd. I want to follow Your voice and live in a way that brings joy to Your heart. Forgive me for the times I’ve walked past those You’ve called me to serve. Help me to see others through Your eyes, to love with Your hands, and to give without expecting in return. May I be found among Your sheep. Not because I’m worthy, but because You are full of grace. Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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