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On Mathew 25, I have always assumed that this is the judgment of nations, not of individual people. Since verse 32 says all the nations are gathered before him.

That is the major reason why I think there is surprise. We peoples of nations see the glory and majesty and perfect sinlessness of The Ancient of Days, we see Christ setting as Judge of the World and we know all the sins that as a nation we have committed. This is not so much personal sins, but things that we have allowed our country to do: 40,000,000 innocent lives have been murdered in our country by legal abortion; we made treaties with indigenous people that we broke; we allowed slavery; we have idolized and made much of those who could sing, act, or throw a ball well, instead of those who have been giving their lives (both by sacrificing living and by living a life of sacrifice) for us.

This is not said to cut down America (I still think we are the greatest county on earth and a sheep nation) but to give an understanding of why the people seem surprised. All the people are totally conscience of the perfection of both God and His law and aware of how much their nation has missed the mark of that law.

I see your point, but I don't know how you can speak of nations, literally as nations, being judged.

Jesus also says (Matthew 28:19) "Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." Don't you see that He means to make disciples of people of all nations?

That would be actual men and women (and children), human beings --- since it is human beings, not collective abstractions such as "nations," who are the objects of salvation.