Everyday sayings of Jesus

Separating the sheep from the goats

Two children are selecting who they want to play on their side in a football game. They start by picking the best players in the group, and by doing that, they’re “separating the sheep from the goats”, because the best players are very quickly snapped up, leaving the other players to be chosen last… which is a pretty depressing experience!

Jesus used this image of sheep and goats in a parable he told about the last judgment, where the people who have lived to help others are separated from those who have lived selfishly. Here’s the beginning of his parable…

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Matthew 25:31-33 (click here for the full story)

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