And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Jesus continues to describe the scene of the final judgment, emphasizing that all nations will be gathered before him, without exception. This highlights the universal nature of the judgment: no one can escape the day when he must stand before the Son of Man. In the description, Christ is presented as a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep symbolize obedient, love-filled, and serving souls, while the goats symbolize stubborn, indifferent, and disobedient people. This comparison is simple yet carries deep meaning: just as a shepherd knows his flock, so Christ knows the course of every person’s heart and his faithfulness. On the day of judgment the separation will be just and irreversible, according to deeds, but also according to the heart’s attitude toward God. This word is not only a description of the picture of a verdict, but a warning to live with such faith that a person may be found among the sheep, that is, within the flock that belongs to Christ.