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The discourse of the sheep and goats (like the beatitudes) was given to the apostles and the disciples.. it was not a discourse on how to be saved given to the crowd. Some listened, but the address was to the saved.

See the beginning of the teaching

Mat 24:1 ¶ And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

This is the beginning of the teaching which spans 2 chapters.. it was to His men.

It is describing the work of the SHEEP.

The Sheep were not ever GOATS. the Goats never behaved like sheep This text is a teaching on the judgment of rewards , not salvation .

Mat 16:27"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."

Luke 14:14"For thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

(Rev 22:12)"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

1Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

The Goats are condemned , not because they did not work, but because they had never repented and believed

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

They were not sheep because they did the work that God had ordained for them, they did the work because they were the sheep.

Gal. 2:16: "[T]hat we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified

Here Jesus teaching on salvation by works

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Know WHO ? The elect ..

A good tree brings forth good fruit , that is fruit that is attached to the vine.

If it is not attached to the vine it bears no good fruit and it is thrown into the fire.

But you say, isn't feeding the hungry and clothing the naked good work?

Jesus qualified that answer here is what HE said

A corrupt tree ( not attached to the vine can not do work that is pleasing to him, even if done in HIS name)

A good tree ( a sheep, a saved man) can not bring forth bad fruit.

He says the sheep were ministering to HIM as they ministered. The goats did not.

So the sheep did God pleasing work not to be saved, but because they were already His sheep ( saved) .