Parable
Parable Of The Sheep And Goats Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped parable prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Lord Jesus, in Matthew 25, the sheep and the goats were both surprised. The sheep did not know they were feeding You. The goats did not know they were ignoring You. They were just being who they really were, and what was inside came out in what they did.
I do not want to just do good things and still have a heart that does not know You. I do not want to look like a sheep on the outside and be a goat on the inside. Change me where it matters most. Make my heart new, and the right actions will follow.
Until then, even when I do not realize I am doing it for You, help me see You in the hungry person at the soup kitchen and in the lonely person at the desk next to mine.
Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
Matthew 25:37
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray parable of the sheep and goats prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in Matthew 25:37. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.