Difference Between Sheep And Goats Biblically
Difference between sheep and goats Biblically
Sheep vs Goat Bible. The Bible mentions that the day will come when the Lord will separate the sheep from the goats, as the shepherds do, making a significant difference between the two. (Matthew 25:31-46)
But why the difference between sheep and goats? Is not Jesus the Good Shepherd?
Yes, Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but He is the Shepherd of sheep, not of goats. (John 10:14-16)
And this is the difference between sheep and goats?
Goats are “natural browning,” that is, they like to eat the tender leaves of the trees, cutting off the tips and preventing their natural development. They eat the leaves, suckers, vines, young stems, and shrubs, even undergrowth (they eat it all), and can rise on their hind limbs to reach the highest vegetation.
They are very agile, independent, and very curious. They can entirely survive in freedom, adapting to the environment without the need of a shepherd.
Sheep are “grazing,” that is, they prefer to eat grass, short grasses, and short grasses, as well as legumes and clovers.
It has a “gregarious” instinct, (group mentality) a sheep separated from its flock will be very agitated and nervous, and as a result, may die. They need a pastor. Hence the parable of the 100 sheep. (Luke 15: 3-7)
So having briefly outlined some of the habits and differences that exist between goats and sheep, I think it would be perfect to consider whether (spiritually speaking) we are sheep or goats. And for this, we must evaluate with all honesty, our behavior regarding our relationship, and subjection to Our Good Shepherd and Lord Jesus Christ.
Because that’s what it’s about.
Jehovah is my Shepherd; I will lack nothing. In places of delicate pastures, it will make me rest; Beside still waters will shepherd me.
It will comfort soul; He will guide me along paths of justice for the love of his name.
Although I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear any evil, because you will be with me; Your rod and staff will give me breath.
You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my troublemakers; Anoint my head with oil; my cup is overflowing.
Undoubtedly goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and in the house of Jehovah, I will dwell for long days.
(Psalms 23: 1-6)
Goats in the middle of the Sheep What are you?
Did you know that in some parts of the world, they look identical? It is not as bright as one would think from a simple appearance at times. There is something that worries me as we look at our current situation in the church. I see things within the congregation that make me cry.
Let me explain what I mean because what I feel now is a separation of the goats and the sheep within the church and discernment to recognize what is from God and what is not.
When I thought about the difference between goats and sheep, I didn’t look so much at their appearance as their feeding habits and predisposition. As I said before, there are goats that look like sheep and vice versa. Appearance is not enough. Ultimately, it all comes down to diet. Sheep and goats eat very differently.
Sheep are known for grazing. They eat vegetation like green grasses/grasses, and when they eat, they eat at ground level, including roots. They eat what is rich in nutrients. They tend to be more selective in what they consume.
Goats eat a lot of things: leaves, twigs, shrubs, hawthorns, etc. They eat what is present on the surface, and although they are not discreet in their eating habits, which may seem like an advantage, it turns out to be a disadvantage because much of what they consume is low in nutrients and potentially contains chemical substances applied by man. For me, this is a prophetic image of what is currently happening in the body of Christ.
Co-grazing with goats
Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and mine know me, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” John 10:14, 27
We know him by having a relationship with him. What does this have to do with the diet of sheep and goats? Everything! We live in a time when even some within the church are navigators rather than pastors. There is a lot of surface consumption of what is convenient to eat.
We are participating in things in an indiscreet way, which means that we are spiritually eating what is offered, we never discern if it is nutritionally healthy and spiritually dense.
Instead of investing in what is well connected and rooted, rich in spiritual sustenance, we eat what is convenient, even if it has thorns. Some are eating green vegetation speaking spiritually because it looks good, but it is bound with toxins from man, things that are not fundamental truths.
There is a deviation from the rich Gospel of Jesus Christ in some areas. The church is divided into hot topics in today’s culture that shouldn’t be negotiable, and in the process, goats are infiltrating the herd. Listen, shepherds don’t herd goats. Goats carry other goats. They do not know the Shepherd.
Church, let me be clear on something. If you are a sheep and know the Shepherd, Jesus Christ, you will not eat what is offered to you. You will go to the root and eat what is dense in provision for your spirit.
You will not be satisfied by assuming a nature that is not your part. We have a long-standing problem of allowing another church leader to read our Bible and study for us instead of searching the Scriptures for ourselves and making sure that no other Jesus is preached.
The church is getting sick because we are ingesting low nutrient words. Jesus guides the sheep, not the other way around. Paul said that many would turn away from hearing the truth and would stray into their own fables (2 Timothy 4: 4). There are those who turn away from the faith by dedicating themselves to ungodly doctrines (1 Timothy 4: 1).
Do you know what worries me about these passages? This refers to those who knew the truth and voluntarily returned to eat something else. They became goats. They settled for the privacy of another and compromised their inheritance.
We live in a time when proclaiming the unadulterated Word of God requires a willingness to consume it without hesitation and to live it without apology. The old saying says, “You are what you eat.” We have a great opportunity to demonstrate that we are sheep instead of goats in this hour.
There is a separation that will happen in the coming days. As darkness passes his hand, the sheep will make themselves known and rejoice in the knowledge that they have feasted on what has brought great spiritual sustenance, holy truth, and deep intimacy with Jesus Christ.
True sheep desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus and will be persecuted for it, while wicked people and impostors will continue from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:12). We need to be fed on good grass and not leftovers.
Church, I urge you to follow the Shepherd and make the Word of God your nutrient-rich meal. Listen to his voice, eat his word, and follow him.
