“Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?”
Then they also will answer, saying: Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? The goats' response mirrors the sheep's response: genuine surprise. They also did not see the King in the needy. But their surprise serves the opposite purpose: the sheep's surprise revealed unselfconscious mercy; the goats' surprise reveals unselfconscious indifference.
Church Fathers on Matthew 25:44
After the parables concerning the end of the world the Lord proceeds to describe the manner of the judgment to come.
To this most sweet section of Scripture which we cease not continually to ponder, let us now listen with all attention and compunction of spirit, for Christ does indeed clothe this discourse with more terrors and vividness. He does not accordingly say of this as of the others, 'The kingdom of heaven is like,' but shews of Himself by direct revelation, saying, 'When the Son of man shall come in his majesty.'
He who was within two days to celebrate the passover, to be delivered to the cross, and mocked by men, fitly now holds out the glory of His triumph, that He may overbalance the offences that were to follow by the promise of reward. And it is to be noted, that He who shall be seen in majesty is the Son of Man.