Matthew 25:32 Meaning and Explanation
“And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →All nations are gathered before him, and he separates people one from another as a shepherd divides sheep from goats.
What Does Matthew 25:32 Mean?
The gathering is universal — all nations before one throne — yet the judgment is personal: he separates them one from another, as a shepherd at evening parts a mixed flock that has grazed together all day, sheep to one side, goats to the other.
The field of this world holds both together until the end (Matthew 13:30), and only the shepherd finally sorts them. That the Judge is a shepherd quietly comforts even as it warns, for a shepherd knows his own (John 10:14). Nothing about any life is hidden from him or confused by him; the separation will be exact, unhurried, and just.
Matthew 25:32 in the Original Language
aphorizo (ἀφορίζω), 'separate' -- to set apart, to mark off by a boundary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 25:32
What does Matthew 25:32 mean?
All nations are gathered before him, and he separates people one from another as a shepherd divides sheep from goats.