When we come to Sheep vs Goat, many of us have an idea what this might mean. There are TV programmes which mention how to gather sheep, yet rarely similar ones on goats. I wonder why? Which side would you wish to be on? Am I a Goat?
“Calling all sheep! All sheep, head this way to heaven! Thanks for feeding and clothing the poor. PS Sorry, goats, you’re on your own.”
Twible by Jana Riess
This week we are looking at Matthew 25:31-46; known sometimes as the ‘Sermon on the Mount (part 2)’. After a number of parables which give some insight into what the Kingdom of Heaven may be like, we are greeted with that opening line “When the Son of Man comes in his glory“. Here we might recall that in Daniel 7 we first read of the ‘Son of Man’; ‘into glory’ through the resurrection?
The metaphor of the Shepherd is used again, possibly echoing the passage from Zechariah 14:1-21. The Shepherd is now the King…
So why are Sheep possibly preferable than goats? Which side would you wish to be on?
Which side would you Wish to be on? Sheep or the Goats?
In terms of faith, the Egyptians had a goat-headed god (Khnum) associated with the Nile, whilst the Mesopotamians had a goat-headed goddess of fortune-telling. However, the Greek had the gods Pan and Dionysus. Pan was a nature god who engaged in orgies, and described with goat horns and legs; whereas, Dionysus was the Greek god of wine and parties, also known as “Bacchus”. Dionysus was accompanied by satyrs, who were half men and half goat. So goats typically got a bad press.
There’s also Yom Kippur, where two goats were selected for the atonement sacrifice. The first would be sacrificed with the blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, whilst the other goat would have a red cord tied to it, and pushed out of the camp – it was the scapegoat. Please say I am not a goat!
Sheep generally flock together and are capable of being led. They know their Shepherd’s voice, although I doubt they know their name, (John 10:27) but they’ll eat most things. Goats are independent herd animals. While you can push a sheep around, you cannot typically push a goat. Goats are browsers and eat the tops of plants and even twigs from trees — which they climb into. Goats need, and tend to select, a more nutritious diet than sheep do, which tend to graze. Which side would you wish to be on?
(Note: both animals are kosher. Deut 14:4-8 states which animals both chew the cud and have a completely split hoof. )
Does it matter?
This is again another example of maybe tending towards looking for detail where there does not need such detail. Just like the Parable of the Talents, we may focus upon the money, and not the reason of the parable.
In Ezekiel 34 we have a great story of the Shepherds of Israel ‘who have been feeding themselves, but not feeding their sheep’ (Ezekiel 34:2-3).
They ‘haven’t strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound the injured, brought back the strayed, not sought the lost’, so God becomes the Shepherd.
God states that “I will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats” and “between the fat sheep and the lean sheep”
Ezekiel 34:17, 22 (NRSV)
Whoa! not between sheep and the goats?
Why is it that we look for one better than the other, winners? Who wants to be a loser? (Ponder the the US Election…)
It isn’t about whether we are a sheep or a goat but how we live.
Justification by…
Then we are given that list:
I was hungry…
Matthew 25:35-36
thirsty…
a stranger…
naked…
sick…
in prison…
It’s interesting that the Sheep nor the Goats are not asked to demonstrate anything.
Is this a commandment or a description?
Often it has been interpreted as a Commandment, but consider: if it was a description, we are no longer separating, no longer splitting communities apart but seeking to bring unity. It is saying how we should live.
Focus
Whereas the Goats asked “Lord, when did we see you and fail to care for you” (Matthew 25:44) , the Sheep asked “Lord, when did we see you and perform these services?” (Matthew 25: 37) It’s not about which side would you wish to be on.
It would seem that the Goats, whoever they are, are those who were keeping watch, were ready but didn’t see Jesus in their midst. The Sheep were keeping watch, were ready, but were busy taking care of their neighbours.
In our recent parables, the King has been high and mighty, looking to further their power (or riches). Christ the King is very different to all other Kings. As we have discovered in the Wedding Banquet, in the Vineyard, Christ the King is one who mingles with the people, is with us at a very personal level, and has shown us what to do. This is the reason of the parable. Can we see Christ in another?
“Will you welcome the body of the Church into your world? Will you allow us to sit at your table? Will you allow us to learn about you – your joys, sorrows, aspirations, and gifts? And who knows, maybe in the process we will discover the Christ in each other?”
Estock, Beth Ann., & Nixon, Paul., Weird Church, Cleveland : Pilgrim Press, 2016), p. 20. (My emphasis)
Conclusion
There may be sides in any debate but here Christ the King is central – that’s the focus. Jesus, seen as one with the people, wasn’t about to banish failures to ‘outer darkness’. Jesus, as per the Sermon on the Mount (Part 1) (Matthew 5) blesses those who feed, clothe the other. It isn’t about what we may have done in the past but the reason for living as we do which is key.
When (if) you play football, you don’t have to keep thinking of the rules. You play the game and occasionally we break one of the rules. The playing of the game becomes instinctive not because of any reward.
Jesus seeks that our feeding of the hungry, of clothing another, of visiting the one who is in hospital, is second nature to us. It’s then a clear sign to others of the wonder of the Kingdom of God ~ what these parables have been all about. Before we can be Christ to our neighbour – as per the greatest Commandment – we need to see Christ in our neighbour.
Further Questions…
There are some other interesting if not very challenging questions which arise from this passage?
Why do we feed the hungry? Is it because we feel guilty, or a heartfelt compulsion?
If doing great deeds is all that is needed, do we need faith?
If we merely have to do good deeds, is this Justification by works?
or is this salvation not by those of faith but those who ‘do’ faith?
Note that the Prison was not really for incarceration then but for those who are awaiting trial (Philippians 1:19-20). It was a demand upon the families and friends of the prisoner that they be fed whilst they were in prison.
The last verse of the text (Matthew 25:46) speaks of “into eternal punishment” which has, traditionally, been viewed as a form of Hell. It is interesting to look at the Greek, as best we know it. The words for eternal punishment are κόλασιν “αἰώνιον. These have been translated as ‘everlasting punishment’ in the KJV but not in other translations. Perhaps the authors of that translation, at that time, had a particular perspective? What do other translations consider it?
Some translations I am aware of are “period pruning” or “lifelong pruning“. Neither of which are a form of punishment but one of renewal.
https://christswords.com/node/460
Furthermore, if there are no teams or sides, but those that are busy, through their second nature, helping all whom they can, seeing Christ wherever, whenever; and those who are busy but it isn’t second nature… as yet. Through pruning they seek to be as one, helping all, seeing Christ. This is renewal and certainly not damnation.
From an email:
When tackling the ideas around shepherding ‘we’ need to remember Jesus was using the idea often as a parable. The people of his time understood the metaphors because they understood the shepherding way of life. ‘Like us using the driving of a car.’ Depending on the context Jesus was using the shepherd to describe something Earthly (E), or Spiritual (S), or as a way of describing God’s Love (GL) and involvement with His children.
In thinking about earthly, spiritual and God’s love the Bible is full of positive and negative reflections of each one. The use of the shepherd and his sheep as the focus for many would have made understanding much easier. People of the time of Jesus would have understood the earthly role of the shepherd and could then translate it into a Godly spiritual role.
When considering the flock the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly can be translated as actors in the Biblical story and can be used to reflect many people and things.
The flock has generally has two distinct groups that feed, protect (give warning of danger) and give comfort in good times, but only so far. We today are little different! As you will know a Celtic fan will tolerate a Rangers fan only so far, before…! Church groups, ethnic groups of all kinds etc are little different. On our own we are not a harmonious flock, unless another common enemy or leader appears encouraging all to a single common focus. A focus that is zeroed in on God’s Love.
Jesus tells us, “I am the good shepherd,” yet we squabble, divide ourselves over how we do things, who and what is right in ‘man’s eyes’. We misunderstand and twist the shepherds (Bibles) words to suit our interpretation. As a flock we divide ourselves! If we all listened individually and corporately to Our Shepherd things could / would be very different.
Many past and present make representation that the way to heaven is through a particular ritual or prayers that have to be said. Those who are like this miss the point that Jesus is not only the way, but the gateway as well! If we sought Him as friend, pathway and gateway… who knows!
Two flocks: The same three ideas (E, S, GL) applies to two flocks.
Think of Esau and Jacob. They’re ‘falling out and Jacob’s deceitful ways’ resulted in two flocks, Muslim and Jewish! Genesis 27: 1-40 Ultimately Jacob fleeing because of Esau’s anger!
The Samaritan woman by the well can be used to represent the split in the Jewish nation (Israel & Judah). Jesus initially asks for her ‘earthly’ help (to draw water), ultimately he offers her living water (Himself). John 4: 1-26
The Canaanite Woman: Comes to Jesus knowing him as a healer! She pleads for her daughters well being. Like the Samaritan woman the discourse is initially hard, Jesus using a slang term of the time, calling her a ‘Dog.’ Not very nice! But she too persists and Jesus responds by healing her daughter. Matthew 15: 21-28
These two women highlight the sheep and goats in the flock of the time and of the bigotry. To a practicing Jew and Rabbi they were definitely goats. Sadly Jesus’ words initially rebuff the Canaanite woman saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Was Our Lord in effect saying, “No” to the rest of the world? Thankfully not! The modern greedy self centred world of man says NO all too often widening the gap between the sheep and goats.
“Feed my Sheep” Jesus’ words to Peter. Words that had nothing to do with sheep or goats, but everything to do with God’s children. Like many of us Peter was slow on the uptake, but overtime understood what his roll was to be. The leader, the steading rock on which the church was to be built.
John speaks of Jesus’ roll as God’s shepherd in the traditional and fullest sense of the roll to all his people. The Shepherd as protector risking his own life, provider of pasture, the gateway, his voice known by his sheep who follow him. John 10: 1-18
We are two parts of one flock, Spiritually, Earthly and how we respond to God’s love. In the past we made rules that divided. In our ‘modern’ enlightened age still continue to make rules that divide. The goats say x is y while the sheep y is x! Our Lord ‘IS’ in the middle trying to encourage, bring about understanding, peace and harmony. What would your response be if like Peter you were asked the question three times, “Do you truly love me?”… Peter’s commission, our commission, yours mine are little different, the key is in the ‘truly love me!’ If we can encourage one person or ten thousand, be they sheep or goat, to respond “I truly love you,” will we also hear the words of acclamation from Our Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” For that is what we all are His Servants, His Flock!