Topical Bible: The Goat: (Flock of) of the Church

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In biblical symbolism, the goat often represents a creature distinct from the sheep, with both animals frequently used in Scripture to convey spiritual truths and moral lessons. The imagery of goats and sheep is particularly prominent in the teachings of Jesus, where they are used to illustrate the separation of the righteous from the unrighteous.

Biblical References and Symbolism

The most notable reference to goats in the context of the church is found in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus describes the final judgment: "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:32). In this parable, the sheep symbolize those who have followed Christ and lived according to His teachings, while the goats represent those who have not.

The distinction between sheep and goats in this passage underscores the importance of obedience and faithfulness to God's commandments. The sheep are commended for their acts of kindness and service, reflecting a life transformed by the love of Christ. Conversely, the goats are reproached for their failure to act in love and compassion, highlighting the consequences of neglecting the call to live out one's faith.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, goats were often used in sacrificial rituals, symbolizing atonement and the removal of sin. Leviticus 16 describes the Day of Atonement, where one goat is sacrificed as a sin offering, and another, the scapegoat, is sent into the wilderness, carrying the sins of the people away. This ritual foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the sins of humanity.

Theological Implications

The imagery of goats within the church context serves as a cautionary reminder of the need for genuine faith and repentance. It challenges believers to examine their lives and ensure that their actions align with the teachings of Christ. The separation of sheep and goats at the final judgment emphasizes the reality of divine justice and the eternal consequences of one's choices.

Practical Application

For the church today, the metaphor of goats calls for introspection and a commitment to living out the gospel in tangible ways. It encourages believers to engage in acts of mercy, justice, and love, reflecting the character of Christ in their communities. The church is called to be a flock that embodies the values of the Kingdom of God, distinguishing itself from the world through its witness and service.

In conclusion, the biblical portrayal of goats in relation to the church serves as a powerful symbol of the spiritual discernment required of believers. It is a reminder of the call to live faithfully, bearing fruit in keeping with repentance, and striving to be counted among the sheep at the return of the Good Shepherd.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Songs 4:1
Behold, you are fair, my love; behold, you are fair; you have doves' eyes within your locks: your hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On the Baptism of Christ.
... the mantle of one of the prophets, though it was but a goat's skin, made ... he reveals
the hidden mystery, and gives living water to the flock of the Church. ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/on the baptism of christ.htm

False Professors Solemnly Warned
... led the blood-thirsty foe up the goat track to ... have a thousand devils out of the
church, than have ... crafty "wolves in sheep's clothing," that devour the flock. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/false professors solemnly warned.htm

The Bishop of Hippo
... Hippo, but a bishop almost without a flock, in comparison ... Upon the Church lands,
these small people were protected ... constantly," or else with the goat "who gets ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/i the bishop of hippo.htm

A Notice of Aetius, Eunomius' Master in Heresy, and of Eunomius ...
... at his fingers' end, sitting under a goat's-hair tent ... by Imperial command from the
Church of Alexandria ... the Tarbasthenite was tearing his flock, another change ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 6 a notice of.htm

On the Animals
... the apostles or the leaders of the church; in the ... of keenness; in Solomon: feed the
animals of your flock. ... gentiles; in Daniel: behold, a male goat among the ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iv on the animals.htm

Letter xix. --(For 347. ) Coss. Rufinus, Eusebius; Pr??f. The Same ...
... of the herd be a sacrifice to God, nor the ram of the flock, nor the he-goat [4463] ,
but all ... In Hypsele, Arsenius, having become reconciled to the Church. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter xix for 347 coss rufinus.htm

Lessons from Nature
... Up there among the precipices the wild goat finds safe ... because there is grievous
error in a church, concerning an ... is not a lamb amongst Christ's flock that we ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/lessons from nature.htm

'Other Sheep'
... the future in the midst of the ransomed flock, till we ... Every church that has engaged
in the toil has shared in ... of the snow, and after a while a goat's step, as ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/other sheep.htm

Psalm L.
... are; just as what the earth is, the lands themselves, just as what the Church is,
the Churches ... why hast thou not selected the best he-goat from thy flock? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm l.htm

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
... his excitement lends him the feet of the wild goat; he stands ... not save a soul so
much to the church as to ... and though the saved are in the flock, the greatest ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 30 1884/the parable of the lost.htm