Matthew 16:27

27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and at that time he will reward each one according to {what he has done}.

Matthew 16:27 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 16:27

For the son of man shall come in the glory of his Father,
&c.] This is a reason, proving the truth of what is before asserted, that men's lives may be lost by saving them, and be found by losing them, whatever paradoxes they may seem to be; and that the loss of a soul is irrecoverable, and no compensation can be made for it; and points out the time, when all this will appear: for nothing is more certain, and to be depended upon, than that Christ, who, though he was then a mean and contemptible man, and attended with the sinless infirmities of human nature, wherefore he calls himself, "the son of man", should come; either a second time to judgment at the last day, in the same glory as his Father, as his Son, equal with him, and clothed, with power and authority from him, and as mediator, to execute judgment: with his angels; the Holy Ones, so the Syriac and Persic versions read, and so some copies; who will add to the glory of his appearance; and will be employed in gathering all nations before him, and in executing his will: or, in his power, to take vengeance on the Jewish nation; on those that crucified him, or did not believe in him, or deserted and apostatised from him. And then he shall reward every man according to his works, or work; either that particular action of putting him to death, or their unbelief in him, or desertion of him; or any, or all of their evil works, they had been guilty of: for though good works are not the cause of salvation, nor for which men will be rewarded; though they may be brought into judgment, as proofs and evidences of true faith, in the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ, by which good men will be acquitted and discharged; yet evil works will be the cause of condemnation, and the rule of judgment; and the reason of adjudging to temporal punishment here, and eternal destruction hereafter.

Matthew 16:27 In-Context

25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me will find it.
26 For what will a person be benefited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a person give in exchange for his life?
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and at that time he will reward each one according to {what he has done}.
28 Truly I say to you, that there are some of those standing here who will never experience death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "his activity"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.