Sheep and Goats

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Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,732
3,559
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#1
So, God separates the sheep from the goats....

We get our chromosomes from conception - from our father and mother.

Evidently, sheep and goats have a different chromosome count.

So, is the difference between spiritual sheep and goats the “born again” experience?

Sheep (Ovis aries) have 54 chromosomes, while goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) have 60. While sheep and goats will occasionally mate, fertile sheep-goat hybrids are rare. Hybrids made in the laboratory are called chimeras. The easist way to tell the difference between a sheep and goatis to look at their tails.

So, what’s so different about their tails????? :unsure:
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
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#2
So, God separates the sheep from the goats....

We get our chromosomes from conception - from our father and mother.

Evidently, sheep and goats have a different chromosome count.

So, is the difference between spiritual sheep and goats the “born again” experience?

Sheep (Ovis aries) have 54 chromosomes, while goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) have 60. While sheep and goats will occasionally mate, fertile sheep-goat hybrids are rare. Hybrids made in the laboratory are called chimeras. The easist way to tell the difference between a sheep and goatis to look at their tails.

So, what’s so different about their tails????? :unsure:
Sheep and goats are examples of how God views His creation. Sheep are the saved, goats the lost, I am talking about on the day of Judgment. The goats go to hell for all eternity, the sheep go to be with the Lord.
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,732
3,559
113
#3
Sheep and goats are examples of how God views His creation. Sheep are the saved, goats the lost, I am talking about on the day of Judgment. The goats go to hell for all eternity, the sheep go to be with the Lord.
But, what do you think about their tails?
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
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#4
But, what do you think about their tails?
I must have misunderstood the OP. I was looking at this from a spiritual perspective.
When you asked this...

So, is the difference between spiritual sheep and goats the “born again” experience?

That was what I responded to. The spiritual sheep have been saved the spiritual goats died lost. But I have zero clue about their physical tails my friend.

Any vets on here?
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,732
3,559
113
#5
I must have misunderstood the OP. I was looking at this from a spiritual perspective.
When you asked this...

So, is the difference between spiritual sheep and goats the “born again” experience?

That was what I responded to. The spiritual sheep have been saved the spiritual goats died lost. But I have zero clue about their physical tails my friend.

Any vets on here?
Well, I was hoping you’d take a look at the spiritual aspect of their tails, too because it is an obvious and easy way to tell them apart - naturally and spiritually.

Goats’ tails point up and sheep tails always point down. So goats are independent and prideful, whereas sheep are dependent on their Shepherd and humble.

Humility will not attack another person - humility seeks to help. However, Jesus is not only a lamb, He is also a lion. Likewise, believers are also both.
 
Oct 25, 2018
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#6
Well, I was hoping you’d take a look at the spiritual aspect of their tails, too because it is an obvious and easy way to tell them apart - naturally and spiritually.

Goats’ tails point up and sheep tails always point down. So goats are independent and prideful, whereas sheep are dependent on their Shepherd and humble.

Humility will not attack another person - humility seeks to help. However, Jesus is not only a lamb, He is also a lion. Likewise, believers are also both.
I agree that they are used as allegories, as none of us are literal sheep and goats. I was just unclear as to why you were asking about their tails.

Also, goats eat about anything and are rather rebellious. Sheep are meek and weak and can not defend themselves. They are very loyal to their shepherd as well. I heard a Psalm 23 sermon a few months back, and it was, hands down, the best sermon I have ever heard on that chapter, and maybe the best sermon I have ever heard, period. He went through those verses and explained how shepherds care for their sheep, and even give them each a name(John 10:3). He then talked about the rod and the staff and how the shepherd uses them on his flock. Sadly, it was at a local church, not recorded. :(
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,732
3,559
113
#8
When Jesus divides the sheep from the goats, what is He looking for to tell the difference?

The chromosome count?
The tail?
The outer covering - wool vs hair?
Which ones know His voice?


Or is it something to do with giving a stranger a drink of water or some food? Perhaps visiting someone in prison?

Hmmmmm.......... :unsure:
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
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#9
When Jesus divides the sheep from the goats, what is He looking for to tell the difference?

The chromosome count?
The tail?
The outer covering - wool vs hair?
Which ones know His voice?


Or is it something to do with giving a stranger a drink of water or some food? Perhaps visiting someone in prison?

Hmmmmm.......... :unsure:
When Jesus separates them, He separates the saved from the lost. He will say to the goats "Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; "(Matthew 25:41) Why would He do this? Because these have not done His will and that is take care of his/her neighbor.
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
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#10
When Jesus divides the sheep from the goats, what is He looking for to tell the difference?

The chromosome count?
The tail?
The outer covering - wool vs hair?
Which ones know His voice?


Or is it something to do with giving a stranger a drink of water or some food? Perhaps visiting someone in prison?

Hmmmmm.......... :unsure:
What you see in the sheep and goats are who and what they are. The goats are rebellious and will eat just about anything. Sheep are loyal followers of their shepherd and only eat certain foods, i.e. vegetables.

When He separates them, He is looking at what they did. He sees the sheep as serving others, putting others' needs ahead of theirs. He sees them visiting people who are sick, in prison, feeding the hungry, giving a drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, etc. In other words my friend, the sheep do His will here on earth. He sees the goats are willing only to serve themselves. They did not do His will here on earth.
 

Embankment

Senior Member
Feb 28, 2017
693
190
43
#11
What you see in the sheep and goats are who and what they are. The goats are rebellious and will eat just about anything. Sheep are loyal followers of their shepherd and only eat certain foods, i.e. vegetables.

When He separates them, He is looking at what they did. He sees the sheep as serving others, putting others' needs ahead of theirs. He sees them visiting people who are sick, in prison, feeding the hungry, giving a drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, etc. In other words my friend, the sheep do His will here on earth. He sees the goats are willing only to serve themselves. They did not do His will here on earth.
Except not one of us actually does his will or can do so. That is where grace enters the picture. We may wish to do the things above but we can’t. Thank God that Jesus took our place!
 
Oct 25, 2018
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#12
Except not one of us actually does his will or can do so. That is where grace enters the picture. We may wish to do the things above but we can’t. Thank God that Jesus took our place!
We can not do it completely, but the goal is to strive to do it to the best of ability. I hope you know what I mean. I am not advocating working our way to heaven my friend.
 

Embankment

Senior Member
Feb 28, 2017
693
190
43
#13
We can not do it completely, but the goal is to strive to do it to the best of ability. I hope you know what I mean. I am not advocating working our way to heaven my friend.
I agree. However all of us pick an choose what parts the commandment to Love neighbor we want to do. We rationalize and prioritize them in our own minds to make our personal behaviors the ones pleasing to God. The behaviors we don’t wish to stop doing we rationalize them as being unimportant to God.
So, we may strive in our on way to live in love our version is deeply flawed. Grace is all that saves us!
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
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#14
A distinguishing factor between sheep and goats spiritually is that Jesus gave his life for the sheep. Nothing states he gave his life for the goats or those who do not belong to him. And it makes perfect sense, a shepherd is etymologically a sheep herder not a goat herder.

In John 10:11-18 we see our Christ speaking of laying down his life for the sheep, this sacrifice is apparently exclusive.

He speaks of the fact the sheep know him, and he knows them; John 10:14 (note the antithesis in Matthew 7:23). The sheep listen to his voice; John 10:4, 5, 16 yet those who are not his (contextually not his sheep) do not listen; John 8:47, 10:26.

Note also 1 Peter 2:25 and the language there; we were as sheep going astray but have returned unto the Shepherd... &c. Very interesting verbiage there.
 

Embankment

Senior Member
Feb 28, 2017
693
190
43
#15
A distinguishing factor between sheep and goats spiritually is that Jesus gave his life for the sheep. Nothing states he gave his life for the goats or those who do not belong to him. And it makes perfect sense, a shepherd is etymologically a sheep herder not a goat herder.

In John 10:11-18 we see our Christ speaking of laying down his life for the sheep, this sacrifice is apparently exclusive.

He speaks of the fact the sheep know him, and he knows them; John 10:14 (note the antithesis in Matthew 7:23). The sheep listen to his voice; John 10:4, 5, 16 yet those who are not his (contextually not his sheep) do not listen; John 8:47, 10:26.

Note also 1 Peter 2:25 and the language there; we were as sheep going astray but have returned unto the Shepherd... &c. Very interesting verbiage there.
The Bible clearly states that Jesus died for everyone for we all are in need of a savior. Everyone!
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
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#16
The Bible clearly states that Jesus died for everyone for we all are in need of a savior. Everyone!
Is that all you can see in the details given in my response?

I'm speaking in the context of what Jesus said in the passages in John I am referring to. I don't see your belief stated in that passage.
 

Embankment

Senior Member
Feb 28, 2017
693
190
43
#17
Is that all you can see in the details given in my response?

I'm speaking in the context of what Jesus said in the passages in John I am referring to. I don't see your belief stated in that passage.
I am just stating the big picture here.
If you are saying Jesus died only for his followers then that is wrong.
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
#18
I am just stating the big picture here.
I'm sticking to the context and you could too if you wanted to, sharing in the wonders of the text at hand. The true big picture is therein contained dear brother.
 

louis

Senior Member
Nov 1, 2017
1,102
86
48
#19
Sheep are gentle while goats are more rambunctious.