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Sheep and goats represent the
faithful and unfaithful ones in the same flock.
I saw an Indie goatherd herding some sheep and goats today. It reminded me of some exchanges on a popular passage of Scripture.
It
is a common and popular notion to see the sheep and goats in Matthew 25 as
representing the elect and non-elect, respectively. Where does the Scriptures ever equate the goats as the non-elect?
Let
me suggest these for your consideration:
1.
All three parables in Mt 25 are about the same theme...
-
the wise and foolish virgins of the One Bridegroom,
-
the faithful and unfaithful servants of the One same Master,
-
the sheep and the goats of one flock of the One Shepherd.
In the above, the goats are in the same category as, or equivalent to, the foolish virgins and unfaithful servants.
Does
this suggestion help to direct your thoughts on the sheep and the goats a bit?
Take a look here:
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2013/12/sheep-and-goats-take-another-look.html
Jorge
HIS
sheep.
Did
Christ also die for the goats?
Sing
Good
question! Jorge.
A
better and more helpful question is
Who
do the goats in the parable represent?
Jorge
Part
of the Nations
Jorge
I
AM a good Shepherd and the good Shepherd giveth His life for the (goat)?
Sing
The
Shepherd has sheep and goats in his flock.
The
Bridegroom has wise and foolish virgins expecting him.
The
One Master has faithful and unfaithful servants.
Read
the previous exchanges. Raise something new. No need to rehash old ideas.
CONTEXT,
Sir. Context: not sound byte!!!
Sing
What
do the goats represent in the parable, do you know?
Jorge
Bro. Sing, other Elders have explained that clearly, goats represent nations that forget God (in
the book of Mat.25)
[sing: And nations are required by the Lord to show those kindnesses/good works to His people!!!]
Sing
Where
does it say that goats represent nations that forget God?
To
be consistent, the sheep, equally clear, represent NATIONS that remember God.
Is the nation of USA a sheep or a goat, in the view of the other Elders? What about the nation of the
Philippines? Which nations remember God?
Jorge
Take
a look at the context again
Sing
What
is the context in your understanding? Tell us.
Jorge
Don't even ignore chapters 23, 24, and 25, read them again
Sing
I have read
those chapters many times. Now tell us your understanding of the context. Thank
you.
Jorge
Mat.
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.
Goats
and sheep represent all the nations, but only the sheep is on His right hand.
Then
shall the King say unto them (Sheep) on His right hand, come, ye blessed of my
Father (only they are the blessed of the Father)
Inherit
the kingdom prepared for YOU from the foundation of the world.
For
me, it's clear, bro. Sing
[sing: so sheep and goats ARE NATIONS... and nations are expected to do those kind deeds to Christ's people???????]
Sing
Rev
5:9
And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the
seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Christ's
redeemed are found among ALL NATIONS.
Does
this help?
If the goats are not among the sheep in the same flock of the One Shepherd, why the need to separate and divide them from the sheep?
Isn't it simple and clear that the faithful are separated/divided from the unfaithful that are found in the one same flock?
Jorge
The same flock indicated one place, the goats and the sheep are in one place, until the
dividing or separation comes
Sing
Thanks.
No further comment.
Jorge
Thanks. for
ur thoughts,
Bill
Taylor
Bro.
Sing, as you know, this is one of those "touchstones" that men will
use as an acid test of orthodoxy. It is not easy for others to go against
popular opinion. The "we've always believed and preached it this way"
prohibition has brought many men into submission on this passage, and others as
well. I believe context of all the 25th chapter as well as 24th ought to show
that Jesus did not speak of eternal condemnation, but of a timely separation
from the knowledge of God's mercies.
