Daily Bible Reading “The Good Shepherd Divides His Sheep” (Matthew 25:31-46)

Posted on March 25, 2024 by Deborah H. Bateman

The Good Shepherd Divides His Sheep

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46. In this Scripture, Jesus is talking to the disciples and tells them that when the Son of Man comes, and the angels with Him, He’ll sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be before Him and He’ll divide them as a shepherd divides His sheep from the goats. He’ll put the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left hand. Are you a sheep or a goat?

All the nations will be before Him and He’ll divide them as a shepherd divides His sheep from the goats. He’ll put the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left hand. Are you a sheep or a goat?

To the sheep, who are on His right hand, He’ll say: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”

The righteous ones asked when they saw Him, and did all those things, and He told them: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

He said to the ones on the left side, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.”

They asked Him when they saw him and didn’t do these things. He told them, “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. Therefore, you will go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

This is a harsh reality, but, we need to realize one day this is truly going to happen. Are you prepared? Do you know if you will be on the right hand or the left? Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, I pray you will do so before it is too late.

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 25:31-46

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
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:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Things to think about:

Are you prepared to meet the Master?
What does Jesus say to the sheep?
What does Jesus say to the goats?
Do you have compassion for others who are in need?
Ask God to help you to see the need of others and to respond to their needs.

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us as we read this Scripture, to know in our hearts whether we are the sheep or the goats. We want to spend eternity with You in heaven. I pray for the ones who haven’t accepted You yet, that You would draw them to Yourself before it is eternally too late. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of …

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my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

– Matthew 25:34

– This is an excerpt from The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ.

Click the link above to get your copy now!

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The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
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The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman, which takes you through the life of Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew is the first book in the New Testament of the Bible. It begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ and His birth.

The Book of Matthew also goes into Jesus’ ministry on earth, including the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ parables, and Jesus’ final days, including His death, burial, and resurrection. The book concludes with the great commission.

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ includes fifty-seven daily devotionals which contain a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions to think about, and a prayer of the day. It is a great book for individual daily devotions or a group Bible study.

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Daily Bible Reading “Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30)

Posted on March 24, 2024 by Deborah H. Bateman

Parable of the Talents

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 25:14-30. In this Scripture, Jesus is telling the disciples another parable about the kingdom of heaven. He says it is like a man who was traveling to a far country.

The man called his servants and gave them his goods to keep until he returned. He gave each one of them according to their ability. One he gave five talents, one two, and one he gave one talent. What do you think the servants did with their talents while the man was gone?

A talent was made of silver and each one weighed fifty to eighty pounds. When the man returned he found the man who had five talents doubled his, the one who had two talents doubled his, but, the one who had only one talent buried his talent in the ground. Why do you think he buried it in the ground?

He said he was afraid, so instead of taking what his lord gave him and trying to make more with it, he hid it in the ground. Isn’t it funny how we let fear cripple us?

The man was happy with the ones who doubled their talents and told them he would give them more. But the one who buried his displeased the lord.

So, the Lord told his servants to take his talent from him and give it to the one who had ten talents. Then he wanted them to cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.

Remember, this is a parable about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus went away and He is coming back someday. He left each one of His servants with talents and we’ll all be accountable to Him for how we use those talents. Everything we have He provided and every gift we have He gave us. So, we need to make sure we are using our money, our time, and our talents in a way that will honor Him when He returns.

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 25:14-30

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Things to think about:

Which of the men were most responsible with their talents?
Which of the men were least responsible with their talents?
What did the man do with the one who was least responsible?
How are you using the talents God has given you for Him?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this parable of the talents, help us examine ourselves and see how we are using what You have given to us. Help us to use what you have provided for us wisely, so at Jesus’ return, He’ll be pleased with us. Help us to not be hearers of the Word only, but doers of the Word, as well. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD, Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast …

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been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

– Matthew 25:21

– This is an excerpt from The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ. Click the link to get your copy now!

Christian Music Video: Parables of Jesus: The Parable of the Talents

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