Tuesday 24th November

Matthew 25:31-46

The Sheep and the Goats

In this final back to back story preparing His disciples for the time between His departure from the world and coming back, Jesus describes what will happen at the end of this time  He is at His most explicit about what it will look like when He (the Son of Man / King in the story) returns as the Judge of all people (and things).  In this story, the Judge is portrayed as a shepherd, separating sheep from goats.  This wasn’t easy in New Testament times and they could look really alike!

Like all Jesus’ parables He has some wonderful, and also some really challenging things to say, that Lee shared with us on Sunday.  Let’s have a look at these and explore them together today.

But first of all, catch up with each other and how you’ve been. Then read the passage together.

What stands out for you either from the passage or from Lee’s talk?

In particular, what do you find encouraging or challenging/difficult – and why?

How do you feel about judgement?

• What would you think if there was going to be no ‘final reckoning’?

• How much does it matter who does the judging?

• What does it mean for us and the world to be judged by Jesus?

(Clues: Lee gave us a couple of passages that might help us – Revelation 6:15-17; Isaiah 53:4-6)

For the ‘sheep’:

• What’s the basis on which the sheep are able to inherit good things?

• What do the reactions of the sheep teach us?

For the ‘goats’:

• What’s the basis on which the goats won’t inherit good things?

• What do the reactions of the goats teach us?

(Curly question: What do you think of the language the King uses to the ‘goats’ and the judgement he passes on them?)

What does this story mean for you personally and in the way you think about and respond to people, places, things and events around you?

Pray together.