Matthew 24:31 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And he shall send his angels— This is all in the style and phraseology of the prophets, and, stripped of its figures, means, that after the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ, by his angels or ministers, will gather to himself a glorious church out of all the nations under heaven. No one ever so little versed in history needs to be told, that the Christian religion spread and prevailed mightily after this period, and hardly any one thing contributed more to this success of the Gospel than the destruction of Jerusalem falling out in thevery manner, and in the very circumstances so particularly foretold by our blessed Saviour. See Bishop Newton. Most translations, as well as our own, have greatly obscured this text, by rendering the word αγγελους, angels; for though it generally signifies those celestial spirits who are on great occasions the messengers of God to our world, it is well known that the word refers not to their nature, but to their office, and it is often applied to men, and rendered messengers. See Mark 1:2.Luke 7:24; Luke 9:52. 2 Corinthians 8:23. Philippians 2:25 and James 2:25 in some of which places it signifies, as here, preachers of the Gospel, who were sent forth to carry on God's great designs of uniting all his believing people in one society, under Christ under their common head. See Ephesians 1:10