The Sheep and the Goats
At the final judgment, the King separates people like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. How we treat 'the least of these' reveals our true heart.
Matthew 25:31-46
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The Story
Jesus said: 'When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 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.
Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"
The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat..." whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.'
The Sheep and the Goats
Kids Version
Jesus told a story about the day He will judge everyone:
When Jesus comes back in all His glory, every person who ever lived will stand before Him. He'll separate them into two groups—like a shepherd separates sheep from goats.
To the SHEEP on His right, Jesus will say: 'Come! You're blessed! Enter the kingdom My Father prepared for you. Because when I was hungry, you fed Me. When I was thirsty, you gave Me water. When I was a stranger, you welcomed Me. When I needed clothes, you gave Me some. When I was sick or in prison, you visited Me.'
The sheep will be confused. 'Lord, when did we ever do those things for YOU?'
Jesus will answer: 'Whenever you helped the least important person, you were helping ME.'
Then to the GOATS on His left, Jesus will say: 'Go away. When I was hungry, you didn't feed Me. When I was thirsty, you gave Me nothing. When I was a stranger, you ignored Me. When I was sick or in prison, you didn't visit.'
The goats will say, 'Lord, when did we see You and not help?'
Jesus will answer: 'Whenever you DIDN'T help the least important person, you were ignoring ME.'
This is serious! Jesus says how we treat other people—especially poor, sick, lonely people—shows what's in our hearts.
When you help someone in need, you're serving JESUS. When you ignore them, you're ignoring Him.
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Characters in This Story
Scripture — Matthew 25:31-46 (KJV)
31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Memory Verse
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:”
— Matthew 25:31 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Sheep and the Goats” in the Bible?
At the final judgment, the King separates people like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. How we treat 'the least of these' reveals our true heart. This story is found in Matthew 25:31-46.
Where is “The Sheep and the Goats” found in the Bible?
“The Sheep and the Goats” is found in Matthew 25:31-46, in the book of Matthew.
What can children learn from “The Sheep and the Goats”?
This story teaches children about Final judgment, Serving others, True faith, Eternal destiny. One day Jesus will separate everyone—like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. How we treat hungry, sick, and lonely people shows what's really in our hearts.