Parables Of Jesus Christ: Separating The Nations
by Wayne Blank

See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

The Messiah's parable of the separating of nations:

"25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory [see The Messiah's Triumphal Entry Into The Temple], and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 25:32 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: 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." (Matthew 25:31-33 KJV)
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you"

Although the parable is often referred to as the "parable of the sheep and goats," Jesus Christ was actually talking about "nations," people, who will be separated by His Judgment of good or evil, after the Kingdom of God has been established on earth. At that time, there will be only one nation, God's Kingdom. The "sheep" are the obedient followers of the Good Shepherd ("10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" John 10:11 KJV), while the "goats" are the "rammy" defiant ones who refuse to do anything but what they please for themselves.

The Good Shepherd
"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: 25:35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:34-40 KJV)

Growing In The Grace And Knowledge is not merely an intellectual pursuit. It's a way of life, caring as much for others as for one's self. That's the "golden rule" (Matthew 19:19).

"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: 25:42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:41-46 KJV)

Fact Finder: Upon His return to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, is the Messiah going to plead and compromise with all of the arrogant hypocrites who have been the destructive mis-leaders of the world, or is Christ going to rule the entire earth, His entire earth (see Christ The Creator) as the absolute Lord and Ruler right from the moment of His return? If the "goats" refuse to immediately surrender, is Christ going to negotiate with them, or annihilate them?
See The Coming World Dictator