What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats?

Response

The Parable of the Sheep and Goats is part of the Olivet Discourse, found in Matthew 25:31-46. A parable is a brief, uncomplicated story used for comparison. Jesus employed parables to convey spiritual truths through earthly scenarios.

Jesus introduces the parable by discussing His glorious return to establish His kingdom, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matthew 25:31). Thus, this event occurs at the onset of the millennium, following the tribulation. Everyone alive at that time will stand before the Lord, who will separate them “as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left” (verses 32-33). The sheep represent the saved individuals during the tribulation, while the goats symbolize the unsaved survivors of the tribulation.

The sheep positioned on Jesus’ right hand receive blessings from God the Father and an inheritance. The rationale is explained: “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (verses 35-36). The righteous are puzzled, questioning when they encountered Jesus in such distressing circumstances and assisted Him. The King responds, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (verses 39-40).

The goats positioned on Jesus’ left hand are condemned to eternal hellfire, “prepared for the devil and his angels” (verse 41). The reason is clear: they had the chance to serve the Lord but chose not to (verses 42-43). The condemned inquire, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or”

Needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” (verse 44). Jesus replies, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (verse 45).

Jesus then ends the discourse with a contrast: “They will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (verse 46).

In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, we are looking at man redeemed and saved, and man condemned and lost. A casual reading seems to suggest that salvation is the result of good works. The “sheep” acted charitably, giving food, drink, and clothing to the needy. The “goats” showed no charity. This seems to result in salvation for the sheep and damnation for the goats.

However, Scripture does not contradict itself, and the Bible clearly and repeatedly teaches that salvation is by faith through the grace of God and not by our good works (see John 1:12;Acts 15:11;Romans 3:22-24;Romans 4:4-8;Romans 7:24-25;Romans 8:12;Galatians 3:6-9;and Ephesians 2:8-10). In fact, Jesus Himself makes it clear in the parable that the salvation of the “sheep” is not based on their works— their inheritance was theirs “since the creation of the world” «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: », (Matthew 25:34), long before they could ever do any good works!

The good works mentioned in the parable are not the cause of salvation but the effect of salvation. As Christians we become like Christ (see Romans 8:29;2 Corinthians 3:18;and Colossians 2:6-7).

-7). Galatians 5:22 states that the fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The good deeds in a Christian’s life stem directly from these qualities and are pleasing to God because of the special bond between servant and Master, the saved and their Savior, the sheep and their Shepherd (see Ephesians 2:10).

The central message of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats is that God’s followers will demonstrate love towards others. Acts of kindness will naturally flow from our connection to the Shepherd. Those who follow Christ will show kindness to others, serving them as if they were serving Christ Himself. In contrast, those who are not spiritually reborn behave differently. While “goats” may perform acts of kindness and charity, their hearts are not aligned with God, and their deeds lack the true purpose of honoring and worshiping God.