The Unforgivable Sin Focal Read Together Matthew 25:31-46 ...

The Unforgivable Sin Focal Read Together Matthew 25:31-46 (KJV) When the
Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy
Matthew 25:31-46 angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of
his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all
4038 Graham Sherron Rd nations: and he shall separate them one from another,
Wake Forest, NC 27587 as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the
Pastor David Buffaloe goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto
919-600-4925 them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
online at bibleteacher.org the foundation of the world: 35 For 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: 36 Naked,
and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I
was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the
righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee an hungred, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave
thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and
took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee ? 39 Or
when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto
thee? 40 And 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. 41 Then 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: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no
meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I
was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye
clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me
not. 44 Then 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? 45 Then shall he answer them, sins go to Hell. Murderers and child molesters go to
saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it Hell. Dictators that practice ethnic cleansing go to
not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 Hell. Not too long ago a Church in Indiana had a little
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: child up front singing:
but the righteous into life eternal.
“The Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong.
Illustrate An extremely nervous man went to the The Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong.
dentist's office for a root canal. After coming in and Romans one, twenty six and twenty seven;
setting down, the dentist gave him a shot and left the Ain’t no homos gonna make it to Heaven.”
room – like they always do – to give the medicine time to
take effect. When the dentist returned a few minutes later What they didn't know was that most “Smart Phones”
he was surprised to see the patient standing over the today have video cameras, and one of the young people
dental tray, picking out and throwing some of the tools recorded the child singing and the audience clapping and
away. The dentist said, “What are you doing?” Without then posted the whole episode to the Internet. May I ask,
stopping the patient said, “Were you planning on using How was Christ honored by having that child sing
these tools to work on my mouth?” The dentist said, that song?
“Yes I was”. The patient replied, “Some of these look
pretty gruesome. I'm getting rid of all the tools that I Some people choose to believe that there is no Hell. If
don't like!” that's true, then Jesus Christ spoke untruth, and that I
do not believe!
If you've ever been to a dentist then you can sympathize
with that man. But the truth is, if you're going to get any In our text today our Lord Jesus talks about a future
better the dentist needs every one of those tools to repair judgment. At that judgment
your teeth. The tools make look gruesome, even scary,
but they are designed to be used in the skilled hands of Focal Matthew 25:31-32 (KJV) … the Son of man shall
the doctor to fix what ails you. come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him,
then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And
A Gallup Poll taken in 2007 discovered that 86% of all before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall
Americans believe that there is a Heaven – and that separate them one from another ...
nearly every person is going to that Heaven. A Barna
Poll taken in 2009 asked “Do you believe there is a there shall be a separation of people. One group will be
Hell?” Only 69% of those asked said they believed in placed on His right hand, and the other on His left. Jesus
Hell, and that only those who commit the most grievous said that those on the left ...

Focal Matthew 25:46 …. shall go away into and guidance.
everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life
eternal. Goats do what they want to do, walk where they want to
walk. Goats defend themselves with their own horns,
One group goes into everlasting punishment whereas fighting for preeminence and power. Goats make their
the other group goes to eternal life. So how did the Lord own decisions regardless as to what the Shepherd says.
separate these two groups? Is the Hell bound group filled Goats belong to themselves, but sheep belong to the
with murderers, rapists, homosexuals, liars, thieves, Shepherd.
adulterers?
Focal Matthew 25:32 (KJV) And before him (Jesus)
1 Whether you go to Heaven or Hell is based on shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his
whether you are a “Sheep” or a “Goat”. sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on
his right hand, but the goats on the left.
It's important that you understand that your final
destination is not based on your performance but on 2 Sheep and goats have different places before the
your person. Who are you? What drives you? WHO
drives you? Shepherd King. King Jesus puts the sheep on His right
hand, but the goats on His left hand. Throughout
Listen Beloved: The Lord is a Shepherd to His people. Scripture the right hand has always been the place of
What is it that King David said? privilege and power. Father Abraham allowed Lot to
choose the right hand or the left hand (Genesis 13:9),
Psalms 23:1 (KJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall and by humbling himself God blessed him with the better
not want. lands. The Bible says …

There is a relationship between the sheep and the Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV) In the past God spoke to our
Shepherd. The sheep look to the Shepherd. The sheep forefathers through the prophets at many times and
follow the Shepherd. Goats do not follow the Shepherd, in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken
but Sheep do. Goats are separate from the Shepherd, but to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things,
sheep are utterly dependent on the Shepherd. They rely and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son
on the Shepherd for salvation. They rely on the Shepherd is the radiance of God's glory and the exact
for preservation. They rely on the Shepherd for direction representation of his being, sustaining all things by
his powerful word. After he had provided
purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of

the Majesty in heaven. ✔ “Come, ye blessed of My Father”. The sheep
were blessed on the earth because of their
that Jesus sat down at the right hand of God the relationship with the Shepherd, and now they will
Father in Heaven when He finished paying for our be blessed in Heaven.
sins by His own shed Blood.
The blessing of Christianity is not just a FUTURE
The right hand is the place of blessing, whereas the inheritance of Heaven. We who are Christians are
left hand is the place of cursing. blessed NOW because the Lord is our Shepherd, we
shall not want.
King Jesus says to the sheep on His right:
Several years ago Gospel singer Andrae Crouch sang a
Focal Matthew 25:34 (KJV) Then shall the King say song called “It's Been Worth Having The Lord In My
unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Life”. Listen to these words:
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world: You ask me why, why do you serve the Lord,
Is it just for Heaven's gain?
Think about this statement for a minute – let's unpack it:
Or to walk the mighty streets of gold,
✔ The Shepherd King says to the sheep “Come”. We And to hear the angels sing?
had a relationship on the earth, and have a
relationship even unto Heaven. Is it just to drink from the fountain,
That never shall run dry
Pastor J.C. Ryle said: I love that word "Come." To
me it seems full of grace, mercy and encouragement. Or just to live forever and ever,
"Come now," says the Lord in Isaiah, "and let us In that sweet old by and by.
reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be white as snow." Come is the word put in the But if Heaven never were promised to me,
mouth of the king's messenger in the parable of the Even God's promise to live eternally.
guest-supper: "All is now ready; come unto the
marriage." Come is the last word in the Bible to It's been worth just having the Lord in my life,
sinners. "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come." Living in a world of darkness,
He brought me the Light!

The sheep are blessed! God's sheep are blessed NOW
and will be FOREVER BLESSED.

✔ Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the

Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation When our Lord Jesus walked this earth one of the most
of the world. The sheep belong with the King religious groups in the land was the Pharisees. The
Shepherd, and the King takes them in not as Pharisees had a lot going for them. They cherished
servants, but as Sons, as inheritors of His God's Law. They tithed as God commanded, putting
Kingdom. their money where their mouth was. They attended
the Temple – the Church of that day – faithfully. The
But what of the other group, the goats? What does King Pharisees heard Jesus proclaim:
Jesus say to the goats? We read:
John 5:21-24 (HCSB) … the Son also gives life to anyone
Matthew 25:41 (KJV) Then shall he {– the Shepherd He wants to. 22 The Father, in fact, judges no one but
King –} say also unto them on the left hand, Depart has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all
from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for people will honor the Son just as they honor the
the devil and his angels: Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not
honor the Father who sent Him. 24 I assure you:
✗ “Depart from Me”. He told the sheep “come” but Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who
to the goats the Lord says “go”. They wanted sent Me has eternal life and will not come under
nothing of Jesus in this life and on this earth, and judgment but has passed from death to life.
will receive nothing of Jesus in the next life.
Jesus was very clear with His Gospel presentation.
✗ “Depart from Me, you cursed”. They are not Salvation is in the Son. Life is in the Son. You must
blessed of the Father as the sheep were, but are honor the Son. All judgment is given to the Shepherd
cursed for they refused the Father and the Son. King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:11-13 (HCSB) And this is the testimony {of the The Pharisees wanted God without Jesus. They wanted
Scripture}: God has given us eternal life, and this life ritual without a relationship with the Shepherd King.
is in His Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. Jesus told them:
The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not
have life. 13 I have written these things to you who John 5:39-40 (HCSB) You pore over the Scriptures
believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you because you think you have eternal life in them, yet
may know that you have eternal life. they testify about Me. 40 And you are not willing to
come to Me so that you may have life.
God has made eternal life freely available to all, but
the goats refused this life.

✗ Because the Pharisees who were lawful and the 3 Sheep show evidence of being sheep, and goats
sinners who are lawless reject Christ, both groups
are grouped together as goats. Those who reject show evidence of being goats.
Christ as Lord and Savior in this life need not
worry about being under His rule in the next life. a Sheep love the Shepherd, whereas goats love
“Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting
fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”. themselves. When somebody says to me “I'm a
Christian, but I think it's all right to live with my
You follow the devil in pride in this life, you choose boyfriend/ girlfriend without being married” a little
him over the Shepherd King, then you get to be with red flag pops up in my head. Actually the Holy Spirit of
the devil in the next life forever and ever. God brings Bible verse to my mind, text like:

Focal Matthew 25:46 (KJV) And these shall go away 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (HCSB) Run from sexual
into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into immorality! Every sin a person can commit is outside
life eternal. the body. On the contrary, the person who is sexually
immoral sins against his own body. 19 Don’t you
The goats go away into a place of everlasting know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit
punishment. It is called everlasting because it never who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not
ceases, and it is called punishment because it is your own, 20 for you were bought at a price.
something you earned. Therefore glorify God in your body.

● You don't get a speeding ticket for doing the speed Jesus said “My sheep hear My voice, and they
limit. follow Me” (John 10:27). The Living Word of God,
Jesus Christ, speaks to us through His written Word.
● You don't get to go to prison for doing good.
● Insurance companies never cancel your policy When someone says to me “I can be a Christian and do
drugs” or “I can be a Christian and get drunk” the
because you were a good driver. Holy Spirit red flags that. Why? Because Jesus the
● Schools expel children who break the rules, and Shepherd King doesn't do those things. This is goat like
● Banks deny credit because bad decisions were thinking, not sheep like thinking. When you came to
Christ and were saved by faith in Him the Bible says that
made in life. the Holy Spirit of God came into your lives. The Holy
Spirit guides you to do the loving, selfless things.
You are punished for choosing to remain a goat. Every
person makes that choice. Don't choose the way of the
goat – choose the way of Christ!

As Christ is loving and selfless, so is the Christian to not to me. ...
be loving and selfless. As the Shepherd leads, the
sheep follow. The Shepherd King says “I was hungry, but you gave
Me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, but you gave Me
Illustrate I was watching the Andy Griffith show the nothing to drink. I was lonely – a stranger among you
other day where Andy and his son barely made it to – but you did nothing to make Me feel at home. I was
shore in a holy boat. Pulling the boat out, they hid it naked, but you would not give Me clothes. Sick, but
under some bushes. Later on in the show a thief came you would not tend to My needs. In prison, shut up at
along, stole the boat, and got about 50 feet from shore home, or in a nursing home, and you wouldn't come
before he and the boat sunk. You can't get very far in a and see Me.” It wasn't murder that got the goats cast
holy boat, and you can't get into God's Heaven with into Hellfire. It wasn't homosexuality, nor lying, stealing,
theology eaten through with the moths of selfishness. rape, gossip, hatred, nor any other of the terrible sins that
God's people are not goats, but Sheep. the Scripture forbids that cast these goats into Hell. It
was selfishness. Like Cain said of Abel, “Am I my
b One of the greatest witnesses as to whether you brother's keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). Like Lucifer who
was given every blessing from God, they lifted
are goat or sheep is based on what you do for Jesus in themselves up saying:
this life. What did Jesus say to the goats in this text?
Isaiah 14:13-14 (KJV) ... I will ascend into heaven, I will
Focal Matthew 25:41-46 (KJV) … Then shall he say exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also
also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the
and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave clouds; I will be like the most High.
me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, I'll do what I want to do. I'll be selfish. Though I know
and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye that the Shepherd King gave His all so that I and others
visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, might be saved:
saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or
athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, Matthew 27:28-31 (KJV) And they stripped {Jesus},
and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had
answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head,
as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee
before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the

Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, us His sheep. Now that we are saved we are called to be
and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they love with legs, just as Jesus was love with legs. Our
had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, hands are to be used by Him. Our lips to be kind as He
and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to was kind. Jesus said to His sheep:
crucify him.
Focal Matthew 25:34-39 (KJV) Then shall the King say
Almighty God left the glory of Heaven to hang on a unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Cross between two thieves (Matthew 27:38-43). The Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
Eternal Son became the son of Mary so that He could the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred,
save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21-23). and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me
But they mocked Him, and made light of the invitation drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked,
(Matthew 22:5-6). They chose to remain goats rather and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I
than give themselves to the Son. was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the
righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
Some of you will stand before this Shepherd King one thee an hungred, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave
day and hear Him say “stand there on My left hand”. thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and
Some of you may even protest and say “I didn't think took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee ? 39 Or
you were serious about this helping others thing, this when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto
loving others thing”. He is serious. He is serious. thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto
them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have
We are not saved by doing good, we are saved by God. done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye
have done it unto me.
Titus 3:5-7 (HCSB) He saved us — not by works of
righteousness that we had done, but according to His There is a Church in Valdosta, Georgia that has two neat
mercy, through the washing of regeneration and signs on it's front door. As you enter the Church the sign
renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out this says, “Enter to learn”, but as you leave “You are now
Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our entering your mission field”. Those who visit the
Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace, Church and have no relationship with Christ don't
we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. understand the signs. Those of you who are sheep
understand the signs. “Inasmuch as you have done it
But once saved by God we are commanded to do good, unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it
to be light, to be His people and the sheep of His unto Me”.
pasture. God gave everything He had to save us, to make

Are you sheep or goat? Do not commit the unforgivable
sin. Give yourselves to Jesus!

Focal Read Together Matthew 25:31-46 (KJV) When the minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them,
Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it
angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of
his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46
nations: and he shall separate them one from another, And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:
as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the but the righteous into life eternal.
goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto
them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my 1 Whether you go to Heaven or Hell is based on
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, whether you are a “Sheep” or a “Goat”. (Psalms
and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me 23:1) ________________________________________
drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, _____________________________________________
and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I _____________________________________________
was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the _____________________________________________
righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee an hungred, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave 2 Sheep and goats have different places before the
thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and
took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee ? 39 Or Shepherd King. (Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 John 5:11-13; John
when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto 5:21-24; John 5:39-40) __________________________
thee? 40 And 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. 41 Then shall he say also unto
them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, 3 Sheep show evidence of being sheep, and goats
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no show evidence of being goats. (Genesis 4:9; Isaiah
meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I 14:13-14; Matthew 27:28-31; Matthew 27:38-43;
was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye Matthew 1:21-23; Matthew 22:5-6; Titus 3:5-7) ______
clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me _____________________________________________
not. 44 Then 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 _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________