Let us begin by reviewing what we have been able to comprehend thus far. We have learned that the purpose of a parable is to teach a moral or spiritual lesson. It was the preferred style of teaching used by our Savior during His time on this earth. In a parable, the use of figurative language is not uncommon and it typically employs things from everyday life to represent the parable’s lesson. The Master’s parable concerning the inevitable Judgment Day uses the figure of a shepherd who separates His sheep from the goats. We learned that during the times of our Lord, both animals would eat from the same pastures at the same time. However, it was also revealed that the coats of these animals were complete opposites from each other; the white wool of the sheep from the black hair of the goat. Colors that several times in literature are used to symbolize good (white) and evil (black). Therefore, our understanding of this imagery used by our Lord describes the stark difference between the righteous and the unrighteous. Yet, we paused on the note that the color of these animal’s coats was not the sole reason Christ chose them to represent mankind on that Day. To continue discerning this parable, let us recall that this is not the first time Jesus used the example of a shepherd with his sheep. Like in this parable, our Master identifies Himself as “the good shepherd” and, once more, claims those who follow Him to be His sheep (John 10:11-14). It is here where the elaboration of our Lord’s design in His election of sheep and goats begins to unfold. Observe the detail the Master presents about His sheep: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). We were able to see that one of the many reasons Jesus compares the righteous with the sheep is because their holiness is clearly visible in their lives; however, from this verse we can also learn that their obedience is what makes their coats white. When the righteous ask the Master “when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You, in, or naked and clothe You,” His response is “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:38-40). In these selfless actions, the righteous demonstrated their obedience to God’s command to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). It is irrefutable that our Master went out of His way to love all of humanity; godly and ungodly. The purpose of His mission was to pay the wages of mankind’s sin on the cross. It is no secret that this paid debt has not been accepted by all. Yet, our Redeemer “did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me’” (Romans 15:3). In a true display of following Christ, those who are deemed righteous in the Lord’s parable attain this privilege by imitating Christ in His unselfishness toward man. In following Jesus’ pattern, those who belong to Him will also “lay down [their] lives for the brethren” (1st John 3:16). Hence the teaching illustrated by the sheep. When the time came for the shepherd to return his sheep to their corral, he would call out to his flock and walk in front of them for them to follow. When those sheep who belonged to the calling shepherd’s flock heard his voice, they would raise their heads from the pastures and seek out their pastor by the sound of his voice. Once found, the sheep would go toward their shepherd and follow him back to the corral. Incredibly, with this understanding the Master’s analogy becomes abundantly clear. In the Gospel according to John, we read Christ say that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. In it’s remote context found in Matthew 25, this compliance with His command is exhibited by those who cared for their neighbor’s needs out of love and not convenience. Observe that the righteous had no knowledge that in serving their needing brothers, in reality they were serving the Master Himself (Matthew 25:38-39). In their sight, all that was visible was the hunger, thirst, agony, or loneliness that they understood they could restore. On the flip side of the proverbial coin, the opposite is also manifested in the image of the goats. A very common known fact about a goat is that it is a very destructive animal. The goat is frequently depicted by ancient art eating entire trees and therefore attributing to the disruption of nature. Zoologists have noted in many studies how the goat is a main contributor to erosion in many parts of the Middle East due to their destructive nature. Although they are typically smaller in stature to a sheep, they are very hostile to the sheep; especially after feeding. Unlike the sheep, a shepherd can call a goat until his voice becomes worn out, and it will never heed the call; especially while its feeding. Needless to say, that the only way a shepherd can get the goat to move is by getting behind the animal and pushing it forward with his staff. Therefore, we can easily grasp from the goat that it is a destructive, selfish, and stubborn animal; hence the lesson taught in Savior’s use of this creature. In a similar way, the Master reveals to the ungodly on His left that “I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me” (Matthew 25:41-43). From this reproach, the same nature of the goats is unmistakable in those who were cursed by our King. Their lack of compassion toward their brother’s need only confirmed that their true intentions of following Christ was to gain something from Him. Unlike the holy, there was always an ulterior motive behind their actions. Like the goat, their indifference to the pain and misery of their brethren only contributed to the destruction that was already taking place. Their hostility resonates in Cain’s reply to the Father when asked about his brother Abel (Genesis 4:9, 1st John 3:11-12). Therefore, understanding the nature of these two creatures also allows the Master’s full lesson to manifest itself. The meekness of the sheep and the hostility of the goat are both wonderfully transferred to the visibility of the color of their coats. Christ’s warning to all is undeniably clear in this parable taught by Him. In the Master’s own words, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15)!
