"According to Matthew’s gospel, only two kinds of people walk this
earth: those who love Jesus and those who do not. There is no middle
ground — either we are for the Savior or against Him (12:30). On one
hand, Herod’s evil plans showed him to be one of the Lord’s enemies
(2:16–18), and on the other, Matthew’s leaving all to follow Christ
indicated what side he was on (9:9). Then there was the rich young
ruler, whose seeming love of money placed him on the wrong side
(19:16–22). Those who refuse to invest their goods and talents for the
sake of the kingdom have no love for Jesus, but the people who put their
gifts to work for God will be seen for the kingdom servants they
are (25:14–30).
The picture of final judgment in today’s passage is further
evidence that all people will be grouped into two categories at the end
of this age. Most Christians have heard the account of the sheep and the
goats used as an exhortation for the church to meet the needs of all
the destitute. Certainly, we must care even for the needy who are not
part of the covenant community. After all, the Mosaic law encourages
generosity toward strangers (Lev. 23:22), a principle not limited to the old covenant era (Luke 14:12–14). Not inappropriately, believers have served all mankind based on Matthew 25:31–46.
However, Jesus in today’s passage is not dealing first and foremost
with poor people in general. Instead, He is referring primarily to our
care for other Christians. Since Christ identifies His disciples as His
brothers elsewhere in Matthew (12:46–50), the story of the sheep and the
goats concerns our treatment of other believers (see 25:40). John
Calvin and other commentators recognize this point.
This does not mean that doing good to believers merits salvation. Jesus is merely teaching that “if anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20).
True love for the Savior begets love for all those united to Him by
faith. Even if only in simple deeds, the sheep are to serve one another,
especially the needy. Goats, though they dwell among God’s flock today,
disregard the sheep and overlook their needs. Thus, they manifest
hatred for the One to whom the sheep are united and deserve only a
dreadful fate (Matt. 25:41–46)."
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/sheep-and-goats/
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