“The Least of These, Sheep vs. Goats” | Matthew 25:31-46 Bible Study + Crossword

November 12, 2025 @DannyScottonJr Bible Studies, Lessons, Preaching 0

For more information, please see the previous lessons on Matthew 25:31-39, 40, and 41-46.

Crossword Puzzle (✞-word)

Crossword Puzzle Answers

  • Coming The context of this passage concerns the Second ____ of Christ (Mt 24:3, 25:13).
  • Judge When Jesus, the Son of Man, comes back, He will ___ all people (Mt 25:31; cf. Dn 7:9-10, 13-14; Mt 25:21, 30; Mk 8:38, 14:61-64; Jn 5:22-23, 27; Ac 10:42-43, 17:31).
  • Separate Christ the King will ____ people as a shepherd _____s sheep from the goats (Mt 25:32; cf. Eze 34:17; Mt 7:13-14, 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50).
  • Right Unfaithful goats will go to the left, while faithful sheep will go to the ___ (Mt 25:33-34, 41; cf. Ps 110:1; Ac 2:33-35; Col 3:1).
  • Inherit Faithful sheep will ___ (not earn!) the promised Kingdom of God (Mt 25:34; Gen 12:3, 15:6-8; Lev 20:24; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 3:6-9, 5:21; Eph 1:14).
  • Least Christ’s criteria for judgment is one’s receptivity to the ____ of His brothers and sisters (His little ones who are His disciples/messengers) (Mt 25:40, 45; cf. Mt 11:11, 18:6, 10, 14).
  • Disciples Christ’s brothers and sisters are His ____ who do the will of the Father (Mt 12:46-50, 28:10; Heb 2:11).
  • Receptive How ___ you are to Christ’s messengers who are in need, speaks to how ___ you are to Christ (and Christ’s message) (Mt 25:35-45; cf. Mt 10:9-18; 40-42; Jn 13:20; Ac 9:4-5; 2 Cor 5:20, 11:23-27).
  • Fruit On Judgment Day, Christ will cite one’s godly ___ – works of obedience and compassion – (or lack thereof) as evidence (Mt 25:35-45; cf. Mt 3:8-10, 7:19).
  • Works We are saved by grace through faith – not by ___ (Eph 2:8-10; Tit 3:5-6). Godly ____ are the evidence of salvation, not the origin of salvation.
  • Fire Those who are not receptive to the least of Christ’s disciples/messengers will go into the eternal ___ of Hell (Mt 25:41; cf. Mt 3:8, 5:22, 7:19, 13:40-42, 49-50, 18:8-9).
  • Life Those who are receptive to the least of Christ’s disciples/messengers will have eternal ___ (Mt 25:46; cf. Dn 12:2; Jn 3:36).

Bibliography

  • Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
  • Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–.
  • Brown, Jeannine in Burge, Gary M., and Andrew E. Hill, eds. The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
  • Blomberg, Craig L. “Matthew.” In Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, 1–100. Grand Rapids, MI;  Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic;  Apollos, 2007.
  • Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. *Blomberg citations refer to this book unless otherwise noted
  • Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. Vol. 3. International Critical Commentary. London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004.
  • Evans, Craig A. The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew–Luke. Edited by Craig A. Evans and Craig A. Bubeck. First Edition. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2003.
  • Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to Matthew. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992.
  • France, R. T. The Gospel of Matthew. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co., 2007.
  • France, R. T. Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 1. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985.
  • France, Richard T. “Matthew.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 904–45. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
  • Green, Michael. The Message of Matthew: The Kingdom of Heaven. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
  • Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI;  Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009. *Keener citations refer to this book unless otherwise noted
  • Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Second Edition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014.
  • Keener, Craig S. Matthew. Vol. 1. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
  • Luz, Ulrich. Matthew 21–28: A Commentary. Edited by Helmut Koester. Hermeneia—a Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2005.
  • Osborne, Grant R. Matthew. Vol. 1. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010.
  • Newman, Barclay Moon, and Philip C. Stine. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies, 1992.
  • Nolland, John. The Gospel of Matthew: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2005.
  • Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014.
  • Turner, David, and Darrell L. Bock. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005. *Turner citations refer to this book unless otherwise noted
  • Turner, David L. Matthew. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008.
  • Wilkins, Michael J. in Arnold, Clinton E. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
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