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και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S λογος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--GSM προς-P εγω-
P--AS λεγω-V1--PAPNSM
Ezekiel 34:1
Faith # 68
68. 4. The failure of caring in the people described in Matthew shows that goats mean people who are devoted to a faith divorced from caring. We can see that the goats and sheep in Matthew 25:31-46 have the same meaning as the goat and the ram in Daniel because deeds of caring are listed for the sheep and it says that they did them, and the same deeds of caring are listed for the goats but it says that they did not do them, and that this is why these latter are condemned. A neglect of deeds is characteristic of people who are devoted to a faith divorced from caring because of their refusal to believe that deeds have anything to do with salvation or the church. When people so set aside caring—which consists of deeds—then faith fails as well, because faith comes out of caring; and when there is neither caring nor faith, there is damnation.
If the goats in this passage had meant all evil people it would have listed all the evil things they did rather than all the deeds of caring they did not do.
People like this are also meant by goats in Zechariah:
My wrath blazes against the shepherds, and I will execute judgment upon the goats. (Zechariah 10:3)
And in Ezekiel:
Behold, I am judging between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture? Will you also trample what remains of the food with your feet? You attack all the weak sheep with your horns until you have scattered them. Therefore I will save my flock, so that it will no longer be prey. (Ezekiel 34:17-18, 21-22, and following)
A Faith Divorced from Caring Destroys the Church and Everything It Stands For
Matthew 25:31-46
31
"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
32
Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33
He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34
Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35
for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.
36
I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'
37
"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
38
When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
39
When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'
40
"The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
41
Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
42
for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
43
I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'
44
"Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'
45
"Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.'
46
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
