Matthew 24:31 - Exposition

His angels. As the executors of his will, to bring before his throne all who have to be judged. They have the same office in the parable of the tares and the wheat ( Matthew 13:41 ). With a great sound of a trumpet . Some manuscripts, with the Vulgate, read, "with a trumpet and a great voice;" others, "with a great trumpet," omitting "voice." All, however, agree in asserting the employment of the trumpet on this momentous occasion. The term may be metaphorical for a voice exceeding loud (comp. Revelation 1:10 ; Revelation 4:1 ); but it is more probably to be taken in the obvious sense, with a reference to its use among the Jews in calling the assembly and giving the alarm. Of course, the occurrence is supernatural. It is, indeed, as great a miracle for a sound to be heard simultaneously in both hemispheres as it is for Christ to be seen at the same moment by all dwellers on the globe. This is a matter to be believed, not explained. Shall gather together his elect. The angels will infallibly select these from the mass of men, either by spiritual insight or Divine direction. The elect are not Israelites alone, but true believers of all nations (see Matthew 24:14 and John 17:20 , John 17:21 ). These are first collected, and then the reprobate are summoned, according to Matthew 25:41 . From the four winds. The four cardinal points, i.e. from every quarter of the earth. Four is the number of the world or the universe. From one end … the other; literally , from the ends of the heavens unto their end, as Deuteronomy 4:32 —a parallel to the preceding clause. From horizon to horizon, though this expression, taken literally, is not extensive enough.