The reason is given: they had opportunity to minister to the Lord, but they did nothing (verses 42-43).

The goats on Jesus’ left hand are cursed with eternal hell-fire, “prepared for the devil and his angels” (verse 41). The righteous will not understand: when did they see Jesus in such a pitiful condition and help Him? “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (verses 39-40). The reason is stated: “For 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” (verses 35-36). The sheep on Jesus’ right hand are blessed by God the Father and given an inheritance. The sheep are those who were saved during the tribulation the goats are the unsaved who survived the tribulation. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left” (verses 32–33). All those on earth at that time will be brought before the Lord, and He will separate them “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Therefore, the setting of this event is at the beginning of the millennium, after the tribulation. Jesus begins the parable by saying it concerns His return in glory to set up His kingdom (Matthew 25:31).

Jesus used parables to teach spiritual truths by means of earthly situations. A parable is a short, simple story of comparison. The Parable of the Sheep and Goats is part of the Olivet Discourse.

What does the goat mean