Matthew 16:27

27 1For the Son of Man is going to come with 2his angels in the glory of his Father, and 3then he will repay each person 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 would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Cross References 3

  • 1. Matthew 24:30; Matthew 25:31; Matthew 26:64; Daniel 7:10, 13; Zechariah 14:5; John 1:51; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 14; Revelation 1:7; [Deuteronomy 33:2]
  • 2. Matthew 13:41
  • 3. Romans 2:6; Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 22:12; See Acts 10:42; 1 Corinthians 3:8
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.