It is translated "gentiles" oftener than by any other word, that is, about ninety-three times; by "heathen" four or five times; and in the remaining passages it is mostly translated "nations." That it means the Gentiles or heathen here appears from the fact that they are represented as ignorant of Christ, and are judged, not by the standard of Christian faith, but by their humanity and charity toward those in suffering.

Jesus recognizes, therefore, among these ethnic or heathen people, some as belonging to himself,--the "other sheep," not of the Jewish fold.
The Apostle Paul, who was especially commissioned to the Gentiles, must be considered as the best authority upon this question.

Did he regard their religions as wholly false?
On the contrary, he tells the Athenians that they are already worshipping the true God, though ignorantly.

"Whom ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you." When he said this he was standing face to face with all that was most imposing in the religion of Greece.

He saw the city filled with idols, majestic forms, the perfection of artistic grace and beauty.