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The Parable of the Sheep and Goats is part of the Olivet Discourse. It is found in Matthew 25:31-46. A parable is a short, simple story of comparison. Jesus used parables to teach spiritual truths by means of earthly situations.

Jesus begins the parable by saying it concerns His return in glory to set up His kingdom (Matthew 25:31). Therefore, the setting of this event is at the beginning of the millennium, after the tribulation. All those on earth at that time will be brought before the Lord, and He will separate them 鈥渁s a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left鈥� (verses 32–33). The sheep are those who were saved during the tribulation; the goats are the unsaved who survived the tribulation.

The sheep on Jesus鈥� right hand are blessed by God the Father and given an inheritance. The reason is stated: 鈥淔or 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鈥� (verses 35-36). The righteous will not understand: when did they see Jesus in such a pitiful condition and help Him? 鈥淭he King will reply, 鈥業 tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me鈥欌�� (verses 39-40).

The goats on Jesus鈥� left hand are cursed with eternal hell-fire, 鈥減repared for the devil and his angels鈥� (verse 41). The reason is given: they had opportunity to minister to the Lord, but they did nothing (verses 42-43). The damned ask, 鈥淟ord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?鈥� (verse 44). Jesus replies, 鈥淚 tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me鈥� (verse 45).

Jesus then ends the discourse with a contrast: 鈥淭hey will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life鈥� (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 鈥渟heep鈥� acted charitably, giving food, drink, and clothing to the needy. The 鈥済oats鈥� 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 鈥渟heep鈥� is not based on their works—their inheritance was theirs 鈥渟ince the creation of the world鈥� (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). Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Good works in a Christian鈥檚 life are the direct overflow of these traits, and are only acceptable to God because of the relationship that exists between servant and Master, the saved and their Savior, the sheep and their Shepherd (see Ephesians 2:10).

The core message of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats is that God鈥檚 people will love others. Good works will result from our relationship to the Shepherd. Followers of Christ will treat others with kindness, serving them as if they were serving Christ Himself. The unregenerate live in the opposite manner. While 鈥済oats鈥� can indeed perform acts of kindness and charity, their hearts are not right with God, and their actions are not for the right purpose 鈥� to honor and worship God.