Matthew 16:28
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Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here--"some of those standing here." which shall not taste of death, fill they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom--or, as in Mark (Mar 9:1), "till they see the kingdom of God come with power"; or, as in Luke (Luk 9:27), more simply still, "till they see the kingdom of God." The reference, beyond doubt, is to the firm establishment and victorious progress, in the lifetime of some then present, of that new kingdom of Christ, which was destined to work the greatest of all changes on this earth, and be the grand pledge of His final coming in glory. Next: Matthew Chapter 17
Open source ↗None of Christ's miracles are recorded in this chapter, but four of his discourses. Here is, I. A conference with the Pharisees, who challenged him to show them a sign from heaven (Mat 16:1-4). II. Another with his disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees (Mat 16:5-12). III. Another with them concerning himself, as the Christ, and concerning his church built upon him (Mat 16:13-20). IV. Another concerning his sufferings for them, and theirs for him (Mat 16:21-28). And all these are written for our learning.
Open source ↗16:28 This saying has been taken to refer either to (1) the transfiguration that follows (17:1-13); (2) the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (27:50-53; 28:1-10); (3) Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47); (4) the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (Matt 24:1-31); (5) the second coming of Christ in the future (24:29-31); or (6) an unfolding revelation of God’s Kingdom in various ways, including the evangelism of the world. In the fourth view, coming would mean “coming in judgment” upon sinful Israel. • The expression Son of Man (16:27-28) forms an inclusio (bracketing expression) with 16:13, unifying 16:13-28 around the theme of the identity of the Son of Man. He is the Messiah who would suffer and then be exalted by God and return as Judge.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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But I tell you truthfully, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
Then Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.”
“Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.
“You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”