Topical Bible: The Wicked are Compared to Goats

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In biblical literature, the comparison of the wicked to goats is a metaphor that underscores the distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous, particularly in the context of divine judgment. This imagery is most prominently featured in the New Testament, specifically in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:31-46
The primary scriptural basis for this comparison is found in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus describes the final judgment using the parable of the sheep and the goats. In Matthew 25:31-33 , Jesus states, "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 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. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left."

In this passage, the sheep represent the righteous who have lived in accordance with God's will, showing compassion and love to others. Conversely, the goats symbolize the wicked who have failed to demonstrate such virtues. The distinction is further elaborated in Matthew 25:41-46 , where the King says to those on His left, "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." This separation signifies the eternal consequences of one's earthly actions and attitudes.

Symbolism and Characteristics
The choice of goats as a symbol for the wicked is significant. In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, sheep and goats were common livestock, often herded together but distinct in behavior and utility. Sheep are typically seen as docile and obedient, while goats are often perceived as more independent and unruly. This behavioral distinction serves as an apt metaphor for the spiritual differences between the righteous and the wicked.

The metaphor also draws on Old Testament sacrificial practices, where goats were sometimes used as sin offerings (Leviticus 16:7-10). The "scapegoat" ritual, in which a goat symbolically bore the sins of the people and was sent into the wilderness, further associates goats with sin and separation from God.

Theological Implications
The comparison of the wicked to goats carries profound theological implications. It emphasizes the reality of divine judgment and the moral responsibility of individuals to live in accordance with God's commandments. The imagery serves as a warning to those who neglect the needs of others and fail to live out the principles of love and mercy.

Furthermore, this metaphor reinforces the concept of eternal separation from God as a consequence of wickedness. The fate of the goats, as described in Matthew 25, underscores the seriousness of sin and the importance of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as the path to salvation.

Conclusion
While the metaphor of goats representing the wicked is primarily found in the New Testament, its roots and implications are deeply connected to the broader biblical narrative of sin, judgment, and redemption. Through this vivid imagery, Scripture calls believers to self-examination and a life of righteousness, reflecting the character of Christ in their actions and relationships.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 25:32
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Discourse of Mercifulness
... The wicked are compared to beasts of prey that live ... to rank these, whether among
the godly or the wicked. ... people brought gold and silver, and goats, hair, to ...
/.../15 a discourse of mercifulness.htm

The Eternity of God
... The wrath of God is compared to a stream of ... 20: Bonds and afflictions abide me.'
The wicked are clad ... Goats climb upon high mountains, while Christ's sheep are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/3 the eternity of god.htm

The Refutation of All Heresies
... Chapter XXXI.--Method of Poisoning Goats. ... Systems of the Naasseni and the Assyrians
Compared; Support Drawn ... of Marcus; A Mere Impostor; His Wicked Devices Upon ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/

The Hymns of Isaac Watts
... The wicked are cast down ... Compared with Oxford and Cambridge, the academies had many
disadvantages, but ... Where he talks of sacrificing Goats or Bullocks, I rather ...
/.../manning/the hymns of wesley and watts five papers/the hymns of isaac watts.htm

The Great Assize
... sheep are summoned there as certainly as are the goats; and the ... There shall come
the wicked of every sort ... shrink into the drop of a bucket as compared with the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the great assize.htm

Heavenly Rest
... the greatest happiness here is nothing compared with the ... all the idle converse of
the wicked, and from ... wandered about in sheep skins and goats' skins, destitute ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/heavenly rest.htm

Demonstration v. --Of Wars.
... [733] And David said:"I saw the wicked exalted and ... [743] And the he-goat of the goats
came up ... But as to the seed of man which is compared with the clay, the ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration v of wars.htm

Christ Exalted
... for sins," did what thousands of scape-goats never did ... many to God, are but as stars
compared with him ... What are wicked men, but the servants of God's providence ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ exalted.htm

Letter Xciii. (AD 408. )
... The same [Church] is spoken of, when, in regard to the fewness of her numbers as
compared with the multitude of the wicked, it is said: "Strait is the gate and ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xciii a d 408.htm

The Good Shepherd: a Farewell Sermon
... world into but two classes, sheep and goats: the Lord ... may justly, in that respect,
be compared to sheep ... the habitual temper of their minds: the wicked hear the ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the good shepherd a farewell.htm