Are you a sheep or a goat? This may seem like a strange question for humans, yet it is one that we are faced with in scripture. In Matthew 25:31-33, Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. This will happen when He returns to gather all nations for the final judgment. It will be the final separation. Those who are His sheep will be placed on His right hand and those who are goats will be set on His left hand.
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 divides his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”
Why does Jesus refer to us as sheep or goats? When this was written, people in the region where Jesus was teaching understood sheep and goats. There were many shepherds who tended the flocks for hire. They knew the characteristics of both animals and the value of each. Today, in our culture we think of sheep as sweet animals that have little lambs, in some barnyard, made for children to enjoy. Goats on the other hand have taken on a whole new meaning in today’s language. If you are at all familiar with sportscasters, you will often hear the term goat. They are not talking about the animal itself but use it as an acronym for Greatest Of All Time. While this was not what Jesus was referring to when he spoke about sheep and goats, it does convey some truths about the animals.
Let’s look at a goat. This is an animal that is very driven by its own passions. They are determined to eat what they want, where they want, and how they want it. They are pushy animals that use their heads to butt against anything in their way.
My first account with a goat was as a child. My Dad had just finished college and started teaching. My parents were determined to pay for things as they bought them therefore, there was no extra money for anything. On one particular day, my mom washed the sheets and hung them outside on the line to dry. When she looked out the window the neighbor’s goat had ventured into our backyard and was eating the sheets. My mother was furious because these were her best sheets. She ran toward the goat and began to pull the sheets from his mouth. This tug of war lasted until both were exhausted. The goat would butt her with his head to get a better grip and she would hit him with a broom in retaliation. She finally won, but she still has the scar of the battle on her legs. I can see why the word G.O.A.T. is used to describe great athletes and coaches of our time. A goat has a determination like no other animal. A goat is defiant and follows no one. Just like the goat that was eating my mom’s sheets. Goats are focused and driven by their desires. When hurt in a battle they keep pushing forward. They do not follow well at all. They forge their own paths. The one who takes care of the goats is called a goatherd. The goat leads the goatherd, unlike the Shepherd who leads the sheep.
Sheep characteristics are very different from a goat’s. Sheep are very vulnerable to wild animals or any enemy. They are defenseless animals. They are gentle and must be led to their food and water. If they get separated from their shepherd, they are very nervous. Their instinct tells them they cannot manage alone. Sheep follow the voice of their shepherd, and they trust him completely. Sheep will harm no one. They feel safe with their shepherd, and he can lead them anywhere. The majority of sheep want to stay close to their shepherd and to each other. Sometimes a sheep will wander off, but when he does the Shepherd will seek to find him. A shepherd is not content until he finds the sheep. He knows that without a shepherd the sheep is doomed to destruction.
In John 10:11, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” He proved that when He paid the ultimate price for our sins by dying on the cross. He is always seeking to draw us closer to Him. When the sheep are close to the Shepherd, they are less vulnerable to the enemy. The sheep know their shepherd. In John 10:14, Jesus proclaims “I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Sheep have a relationship with their Shepherd. They want to follow closely, and they depend on the Shepherd to lead them safely. As stated before, goats do none of that.
Just as Jesus saw the people in Mark 6:34, He sees us. When He looked upon those coming to see Him, He was moved with compassion for them. He saw them as sheep having no Shepherd. There was no one who cared for their soul. No one would feed them spiritually and teach them about Him. The disciples wanted to send the multitude home, but Jesus multiplied the fish and bread from the little boy’s lunch and fed them physically and spiritually. Note, that it is hard to get a man to listen to the Bread of Life when his belly is physically empty. Jesus sees us and cares for our needs. He has compassion for us when we are floundering searching for answers and peace in our souls. He wants to be the Shepherd we follow.
Mark 6:34 “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”
One of the most beautiful passages in scripture is Psalm 23. David acknowledges the Lord as his Shepherd. As his Shepherd, he speaks of all the things that this shepherd does for him. He provides all his needs. He leads him on the right path. His Shepherd restores his soul and comforts him. He praises the Shepherd and determines he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Is He your Shepherd? If this is not the way you relate to Him maybe, you are not a sheep. Only you and God know if you are a sheep or a goat.
