The context of Matthew 25, if you would have kept reading, is that all of mankind is separated into two groups… sheep and goats. Sheep go to heaven… goats go to eternal torment.
Very Clearly, Jesus is teaching all of mankind is either a sheep (saved) or a goat (unsaved).
That is the context of Matthew 25.
peace to you
No. the context is the Olivet Discourse. This discourse is a prophecy given by Jesus Christ at the end of the day, two days before he was put to death by his own nation. It is a prophecy concerning the time from then to now and in the future. It is Jesus answering 3 questions posed to him by 4 of his disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew. The two days being symbolic of this present age, each of the two days standing for 1000 years each. BTW, it has now been two days since this prophecy as this time is counted. Therefore, if this does not happen sometimes in the near future you will know I am wrong about it.
Mt 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (aion = age)?
So, here are the "goat" words in this prophecy. They do not stand for individuals but nations. They will be judged by how they processed the preaching of the "gospel of the kingdom is at hand" by how they treated the persecuted Jews.
Mt 25:32 And before him (King Jesus sitting on his throne) shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another,
as (figurative language) a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mt 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
They are not actual goats and sheep but the metaphors are used to differentiate the nations who aided his elect people Israel (the sheep) while she was under the awful persecutor, the man of sin and those nations who join with him. These Israelites are driven out of their land by him during the time of Jacob's trouble. He is really speaking about nations here. This will take place in time after the events of Re 19.
Mt 25:31 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:
Re 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Matt 26:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
The last day is the 1000 year day, the third day, when Jesus Christ will rule over the whole earth through Israel in Jerusalem. This is the sabbath rest for the world. He structured his rule after the model of Moses when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt with 12 heads over the 12 tribes and the 70 elders ruling under them.
To have the nations standing before our Lord in judgement requires that they be soundly subjugated to him as their judge.
If someone would like to say this has already happened, and some do, please give me irrefutable evidence so I can throw my Bible away as useless literature and get on with my life without it.
I am not worried because no one can. The sheep nations will enter into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. They are sheep because they are associated with him and his kingdom and in the beginning every person in the nations are saved.
This is the truth! Believe the words of scripture.