1. The Great Divide
Matthew 25: 31 - 46
Nothing could be simpler???
Perception shifts
• Walking with Maurice
• Hillsborough disaster
• Sheep and goats -
Tale of two tails
2. The Great Divide
Matthew 25: 31 - 46
One of six ‘parables’
• Two in the field and the mill
• Alert for the thief (unknown return)
• Two servants
• Two sets of (5)virgins (unknown return)
• Three servants (talents)
• Sheep and goats
Division, unexpected return,
right behaviour
3. The Great Divide
Matthew 25: 31 - 46
The one at the centre
• The Son of Man (24: 37; 25:31)
• The Shepherd
• The King - judge
4. The Great Divide
Matthew 25: 31 - 46
The contrasts - Sheep and goats
Sheep – on the right
- Blessed by my Father
- the righteous
Goats – on the left
- You who are
cursed
5. The Great Divide
Matthew 25: 31 - 46
Coming to earth
The nations as the
judged (separate the
people – v 32)
The needy in general
‘everlasting’
Going to heaven
The nations as
witnesses
The needy Christians
‘these brothers of
mine’ – v 40
‘eternal’ =‘divine’
6. The Great Divide
Matthew 25: 31 - 46
Some certainties
• Jesus is the final judge (2Corinthians 5:10)
• Jesus cares for everyone who is vulnerable
• How we behave matters(as evidence, not
as cause of our salvation)
James 2: 18, ‘I will show you my faith by what
I do’
