The difference between the sheep and the goats is that the sheep are Christians, the goats are not. Sheep go to heaven. Goats go to hell. Jesus said that when He comes in His glory (the Day of Judgment), He will separate the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:32) and that the sheep. So, who are the sheep and the goats? Are they different groups of people? Can a sheep become a goat and can a goat become a sheep? Biblically, the sheep are the saved people, the goats are the damned.
The following table compares the two groups of people. I find it interesting that there is more to say about the sheep than the goats.
“All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,”
(Matt. 25:32). |
| Sheep |
Goats |
- The sheep are on the right of Jesus (Matt. 25:33)
- The sheep* are blessed of the Father (Matt. 25:34)
- The sheep hear the voice of the shepherd (John 10:3,4, 16)
- The sheep have names (John 10:3)
- The sheep follow the shepherd (John 10:4)
- The sheep will not follow strangers (John 10:5, 8)
- The sheep can stray (Matt. 18:12; 1 Pet. 2:25)
- The sheep cannot be snatched out of Jesus’ hand (John 10:27-28)
- The sheep receive eternal life (John 10:27-28; Matt. 25:46)
- The sheep will never perish (John 10:28)
- The sheep (lit. lambs) are sent out amongst the wolves (Matt. 10:16; Luke 10:3)
- Jesus is the door of the sheep (John 10:7)
- Jesus lays His life down for the sheep (John 10:11, 15)
- Jesus knows the sheep (John 10:27)
- Jesus is the Shepherd of the sheep (John 10:11, 14)
|
- The goats are on the left of Jesus (Matt. 25:33)
- The goats** are accursed and will go into eternal fire (Matt. 25:41, 46)
|
|
- Not of my sheep (John 10:26)
|
| Flock |
Wolves |
- Two sheep groups become on flock (John 10:16)
- The Father has chosen to give the kingdom to the flock (Luke 12:32)
- The flock are the church of God (Acts 20:28)
|
- Wolves attack the flock (Acts 20:29)
- Wolves scatter the sheep (John 10:12)
|
| Lambs |
|
- We are sent out as lambs among wolves (Luke 10:3)
|
|
- the word “sheep” is not in the verse, but the context is about sheep.
** the word “goats” is not in the verse, but the context is about goats.
