A REASON FOR THE DIVIDE

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Matthew 25:33-33 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

The definition of ‘shepherd’ in most instances relates to a specific group of animals ‘sheep’. As a matter of interest, a person who tends goats is referred to as ‘a goatherd’. However, we see from today’s text that both goats and sheep were tended to by a single shepherd:  ‘as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats’.

We tend to move along with a rather skewed narrative: sheep are good and goats are bad. Jesus depiction using goats on the left and sheep on the right, with the right receiving commendation further fuels our drive. Yet, we can look further.

There is a reason goats and sheep cannot and should not be tended together. Right from their appearance, eating habits, instinct, response to instruction and the purpose for being kept, the requirements of goats and sheep differ immensely hence the need for them to be kept apart. Not simply because one group is good and the other is bad.

Just as you cannot offer the same content of training to a group of pilots and nurses, as a shepherd, you ought to ensure that the divide between your goats and sheep is clear. Not because you will find goodness in one and not the other, but so you can tailor teaching and provision to suit their specific needs.

#sly