Sheep vs Goats

Jesus often used the illustration of sheep and goats to distinguish between those who will be blessed to enter into eternal rest vs those who will enter eternal damnation.

In order to understand the text written in Matthew 25 we need to understand the difference in sheep and goats. On the surface we are just thinking one is one thing and the other is another thing.

But once you start comparing the two you start to notice a pattern between believers and unbelievers, those who are a part of the body of Christ and those who are not.

Sheep and Goats almost look alike, however there is one different in appearance. Goats have horns while sheep do not. Goats are more aggressive in nature than sheep are. Horns are designed to buck against their enemies and those whom they quarrel with. Do we buck against God? Do we buck against his word and his will for our lives. If the preacher is preaching the word, do we follow it or do we reject it because we feel like he is saying it and not God through him?

Sheep are grazers while goats are foragers. Sheep stay in the field and graze with other sheep. They have to be with others and have a sense of community. Goats on the other hand are independent and they will wonder off to find their own food.

Sheep stay together, goats venture on their own….almost the same as the other mentioned. They stay together because there is a less chance that a predator can come in and take them by force. Sheep stick together. Goats don’t.

Sheep follow the shepherd and they hear the shepherds voice and the shepherds lead them to pasture, leads them to areas where they can receive water. Sheep depend on the shepherd to protect them, and when they are sick or injured it is the shepherd that takes care of them and anoints them.