And before him shall be gathered all nations.
&c.] That is, all that have professed the Christian religion
in all the nations of the world, whether Jews or Gentiles, high
or low, rich or poor, wise and foolish, such as have had greater
or lesser talents; though it is also true of every individual of
mankind of every nation, tribe and family, of every sex, age, and
state, that ever has been, is, or will be. Yet Christian
professors seem only here intended, as the following distinction
of them, their final state, and the reasons of it show. This
collection of them before Christ, the righteous judge, will be
made by the holy angels, who will come with him for this purpose;
and being mighty, as they are, will be able to accomplish great a
work; and especially as being under the direction, influence, and
authority of so divine, glorious, and illustrious a person, as
the son of man will then to all appear to be.
And he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd
divideth
his sheep from the goats:
they shall be gathered before him, as they were together in their
visible church state, as being all under a profession of
religion; some wise, some foolish virgins; some sheep, and others
goats; some industrious, diligent, faithful, and laborious
servants; others wicked, slothful, and unprofitable ones; many of
whom pass undistinguished and undiscovered now: but then the
judge, who is of quick understanding, will easily discern the one
from the other; such as have the oil of grace in the vessels of
their hearts, together with their lamps, from such as have only
the outward visible lamp of a profession, but destitute of the
grace of God; and good and faithful servants, who have made a
right use of their gifts, from such who have been negligent,
careless, and remiss; and though these have been folded together,
sheep and goats, in the sheepfold of the church, where they have
all bore the character of the sheep of Christ; yet now when the
chief shepherd appears, who knows his own sheep, and calls them
by name, he will as easily separate the one from the other, and
more so, than any shepherd, among men, can part a flock
consisting of sheep and goats. Hypocrites in Zion shall now be no
more, nor sinners stand any longer in the congregation of the
righteous, nor both together as one body, and on one side in
judgment.