你是綿羊，還是山羊 Are you a Sheep or a Goat?

文／Cathy Chen

「當人子在他榮耀裏、同着眾天使降臨的時候，要坐在他榮耀的寶座上。 萬民都要聚集在他面前。他要把他們分別出來，好像牧羊的分別綿羊山羊一般， 把綿羊安置在右邊，山羊在左邊。 

於是王要向那右邊的說：『你們這蒙我父賜福的，可來承受那創世以來為你們所預備的國； 因為我餓了，你們給我吃，渴了，你們給我喝；我作客旅，你們留我住； 我赤身露體，你們給我穿；我病了，你們看顧我；我在監裏，你們來看我。』 

義人就回答說：『主啊，我們甚麼時候見你餓了，給你吃，渴了，給你喝？ 甚麼時候見你作客旅，留你住，或是赤身露體，給你穿？ 又甚麼時候見你病了，或是在監裏，來看你呢？』 

王要回答說：『我實在告訴你們，這些事你們既做在我這弟兄中一個最小的身上，就是做在我身上了。』 ….. 《馬太福音》‬ ‭25‬:‭31‬-‭40‬ 

一、 序言：群體中的隱形人

你是否曾覺得自己像個隱形人？種種的付出努力、隱忍的掙扎，似乎無人聞問。又或者，當身邊的人都以價值交換作為社交籌碼時，你因為缺乏「籌碼」，而長期被忽視遺忘，成為邊緣人？

通常讀到這段經文，我們習慣將自己帶入「被審判者」的角色，心中難免湧起壓力與恐懼。但若換個角度：如果你就是那位被忽略的人呢？如果你的痛苦全世界都看不見，生病時形單影隻，長期在匱乏與孤單中疲憊不堪。那麼，耶穌這段話對你而言就不是警告，而是極深的理解與慰藉。

主彷彿在人群中指著你說：「你不是隱形人。你所承受的，我明白，而且我感同身受。這一切都算在我身上。」這不只是同在，更是永恆的承諾：忽略你，就是忽略我；為你做的，就是為我做的。

二、 審判的場景：從神的家開始

聖經提醒我們，審判將從神的家開始（彼前 4:17）。《馬太福音》25 章所描繪的，正是一幅震撼人心的末日末景。

這段經文或許令人不安，因為它將遙遠的「那一天」拉至眼前，迫使我們直視靈魂的結局。許多人對此的第一反應是：「所以，只要多行善事就能上天堂嗎？」這是一個很自然，卻極大的誤解，偏離了信仰的核心。整本聖經從未教導人能靠積功德而得救。

保羅在《以弗所書》中清楚揭示：「你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信；這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的。」（弗 2:8）這並不代表耶穌輕看善行。相反的，基督信仰孕育了無數的慈善體系，但若論及「普世性的鄰舍之愛」，《好撒瑪利亞人》才是更直接的教導。

那麼，這段經文的核心究竟是什麼？

三、 澄清：誰是「弟兄中最小的一個」？

在《馬太福音》中，「弟兄」並非模糊的群體，耶穌曾親自定義：「凡遵行我天父旨意的人，就是我的弟兄、姐妹和母親。」（太 12:50）

因此，這裡關注的焦點是：屬神的人，是否真正在乎屬神的家？

「最小的一個」，可能是那些毫無資源、人微言輕，且完全沒有能力回報你的弟兄姊妹。我們的主，正是一位虛己的主：「他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，叫你們因他的貧窮，可以成為富足。」（林後 8:9）

這段經文並非要我們「以行為換取救恩」，而是提醒我們：若我們真屬於祂，必定會以祂的心為心，身上也會流露出祂的樣式。

四、 生命的印記：綿羊與山羊的本質區別

耶穌所列舉的行為：餵飽、接待、探望、看顧，這些並非得救的門檻，而是新生命自然湧流的果子。

使徒雅各說得極其直白：「若有人說自己有信心，卻没有行為，有甚麼益處呢？……信心若没有行為是死的。」（雅 2:14-17）一個真正被聖靈更新的人，不可能在生命中尋不見恩典的痕跡。

更耐人尋味的是，綿羊與山羊在審判時的反應竟然一致：

• 綿羊問：「主啊，我們什麼時候做過？」

• 山羊問：「主啊，我們什麼時候沒做？」

這恰恰印證了耶穌所說的，行善時「不要叫左手知道右手所做的」。真正被更新的生命，不會為自己的善行「記帳」，因為憐憫已成了他們的本能；而從未屬主的人，因無法體察主的心腸，自然也看不見那些被他們忽略的靈魂。

五、 回歸生活：跨越障礙，找回起初的愛

這段教導雖然美好，但在現實生活中實踐卻充滿挑戰。我們可以想一想，究竟是什麼阻礙了一個得救的基督徒，活出「綿羊」的樣式？

• 是滿載的代辦事項，讓我們過於忙碌？

• 是害怕給予後，自己會陷入匱乏的恐懼？

• 還是因為曾經被利用、被佔便宜的創傷，凍結了我們的愛心？

我們需要誠實地面對內心，勇敢跨越這些障礙，尋回那份起初的愛，讓恩典再次向四周湧流。最後，請安靜思索，在你身邊是否有人：

1. 長期處於孤獨，也很久沒有感受到溫暖與希望。你是否願意成為那道傳遞關懷的光？

2. 身處困境卻保持沉默，卻因為不想麻煩他人而獨自承受。你是否看見耶穌正站在那裡，等待你伸出援手？

3. 持續的為神，為人付出擺上，卻枯竭不堪，仍在資源匱乏中苦撐。你是否聽見耶穌透過他說：「我渴了，我累了……」？

這些「最小的一個」，或許正等待透過你，重新看見耶穌。

六、 禱告

親愛的主， 謝謝祢提醒我，我是屬祢的，生命中刻著祢的印記。 祢是那位道成肉身、甘願虛己的主，祢的心始終牽掛著那些最軟弱、最被忽略的肢體。 求祢醫治我的自我中心，不讓我只滿足於「正確的信仰知識」，卻失去「被更新的生命」。 願我能以基督的心為心，不只是恩典的接受者，更能成為恩典流通向的管道。 奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

於 1/3/2026

Are You a Sheep or a Goat?

By Cathy Chen | January 3, 2026

"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 put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" (Matthew 25:31-40)

I. Preface: The Invisible Person

Have you ever felt like an "invisible person"? Like your hard work and silent struggles go completely unnoticed by the world. Or perhaps, while everyone around you uses "interest exchange" as social currency, you find yourself struggling with unspoken difficulties—lacking the "leverage" to be noticed, and eventually fading into the background as an outsider.

Usually, when we read this passage, we instinctively put ourselves in the shoes of "the one being judged." This naturally brings up feelings of pressure and fear.

But try looking at it from a different perspective: What if you are the one being ignored? If your pain is unseen by the world, if you are solitary in your illness, and exhausted by long-term lack and loneliness. From that seat, Jesus’ words are not a warning, but a profound source of understanding and comfort.

It is as if the Lord is pointing at you in the crowd and saying: "You are not invisible. I understand what you are enduring, and I feel it with you. All of this is counted as happening to Me." This is more than just "presence"; it is an eternal promise: to ignore you is to ignore Him; what is done for you is done for Him.

II. The Scene of Judgment: Starting from the House of God

The Bible reminds us that judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). Matthew 25 portrays a breathtaking scene of the end of days.

This passage can be unsettling because it brings that distant "Day" right before our eyes, forcing us to look at the ultimate state of our souls. Many people’s first reaction is: "So, as long as I do more good deeds, I can go to heaven?" This is a natural misunderstanding, but it misses the core. The entire Bible never teaches that one can be saved through merit.

As Paul clearly states in Ephesians: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph 2:8). This doesn’t mean Jesus disregards good works—Christianity has birthed countless charitable systems—but if we are talking about "universal love for neighbors," the story of the Good Samaritanis a more direct teaching. So, what is the heart of this specific passage?

III. Clarification: Who is "the Least of These Brothers"?

In the Gospel of Matthew, "brothers" is not a vague group. Jesus defined it Himself: "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matt 12:50).

Therefore, the focus here is: Do those who belong to God truly care about the household of God?

"The least" refers to those brothers and sisters who have no resources, no voice, and absolutely no ability to repay you. Our Lord is exactly such a self-emptying Lord: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9).

This passage isn't asking us to "exchange actions for salvation." It is a reminder that if we truly belong to Him, we will inevitably take His heart as our own, and His likeness will naturally flow through us.

IV. The Mark of Life: The Difference Between Sheep and Goats

The actions Jesus lists—feeding, welcoming, visiting, and caring—are not "thresholds" for salvation; they are the naturally overflowing fruit of a new life.

The Apostle James put it bluntly: "What good is it... if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? ... faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:14-17). A person truly renewed by the Holy Spirit will inevitably leave traces of grace in their life.

What’s even more intriguing is that both the sheep and the goats had the exact same reaction during the judgment:

• The sheep asked: "Lord, when did we see you...?"

• The goats asked: "Lord, when did we see you... [and not help]?"

This perfectly mirrors Jesus' teaching: "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." A truly renewed life doesn't "keep a ledger" of its own good deeds because mercy has become an instinct. Conversely, those who never belonged to the Lord cannot perceive His heart, and thus, they fail to see the souls they have neglected.

V. Returning to Life: Crossing Obstacles to Find the First Love

While this teaching is beautiful, practicing it in real life is a challenge. What stops us from living out the "sheep" nature?

• Are we too busy with overloaded to-do lists?

• Is it the fear that giving will leave us in lack?

• Or is it the trauma of being used or taken advantage of that has frozen our hearts?

We need to face our hearts honestly, cross these obstacles, and find that "first love" again, letting grace flow outward once more. Finally, please reflect quietly—is there someone around you who is:

1. In long-term loneliness: Someone who hasn't felt warmth or hope in a long time. Are you willing to be the light that carries that care?

2. Silent in hardship: Someone enduring alone because they don’t want to trouble others. Do you see Jesus standing there, waiting for you to reach out?

3. Exhausted by continuous giving: Someone struggling amidst a lack of resources while serving God and others. Do you hear Jesus saying through them, "I am thirsty, I am tired..."?

These "least of these" might be waiting to see Jesus again—through you.

VI. Prayer

Dear Lord, Thank You for reminding me that I belong to You and that Your mark is etched upon my life. You are the Lord who became flesh and willingly emptied Himself; Your heart is always concerned for the weakest and most neglected members. Please heal my self-centeredness. Do not let me be satisfied with "correct religious knowledge" while losing a "renewed life." May I take the heart of Christ as my own—not just as a receiver of grace, but as a channel through which it flows. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.