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the right hand

Matthew 25:33&34
"33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"

We are studying “Engage in service” in the acrostic GRACED. Last week’s lesson was to emulate Jesus and His disciples by living in a mutually supportive community. This week’s lesson turns the focus to serving people outside our circle of trust.

Yesterday’s verses describe the Second Coming of Christ and the subsequent judgment of the nations. Jesus, accompanied by holy angels, sits on His glorious throne to exercise His authority as King and Judge. He distinguishes between two groups as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. This is a clear description of the final sorting of humanity based on their relationship to Christ and their treatment of the vulnerable and needy.

In verse 33, Jesus (the King) places the sheep on His right and the goats on His left, symbolizing a permanent division between the righteous and the wicked. In ancient Near Eastern cultural convention:
• Right hand = honor, favor, and blessing
• Left hand = dishonor, judgment, and rejection
The placement is not merely decorative; it is itself the verdict: the sheep are honored as the King’s own, and the goats are set apart for rejection.

In verse 34, the King addresses the sheep, inviting them to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. This inheritance is granted to those blessed by the Father, indicating that salvation is rooted in God’s eternal grace and purpose rather than human merit. The text emphasizes that this group is chosen by God and welcomed into eternal life as a result of His sovereign plan.
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