Matthew 16 27

Matthew 16:27 kjv

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Matthew 16:27 nkjv

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Matthew 16:27 niv

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

Matthew 16:27 esv

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.

Matthew 16:27 nlt

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

Matthew 16 verses

Matthew 16 27 Meaning

Matthew 16:27 declares the certainty of Jesus Christ's future return in divine splendor and authority, accompanied by angels, to judge all humanity. This judgment will be just and individual, with recompense rendered to each person precisely in accordance with their deeds during their earthly life. It underscores both the divine majesty of Jesus as the Son of Man and the accountability inherent in discipleship and human existence before God.

Matthew 16 27 Context

This verse is critically positioned after Jesus' first explicit prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection (Matt 16:21), and Peter's subsequent rebuke, followed by Jesus' sharp correction (Matt 16:22-23). Immediately prior to Matthew 16:27, Jesus lays out the stringent conditions of discipleship: self-denial, taking up one's cross, and losing one's life for His sake (Matt 16:24-26). He declares that whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for His sake will find it.

Matthew 16:27 serves as the powerful theological motivation and justification for such radical commitment. It assures the disciples that their sacrifice in this life is not in vain, but rather foundational for their standing at His glorious return. It highlights the profound accountability for choices made in response to Jesus and His call to follow, directly linking present decisions with future eternal outcomes. This understanding pushes back against worldly priorities and comforts, setting the stage for a sober recognition of ultimate spiritual realities and a future judgment when every action will be revealed and justly rewarded or condemned.

Matthew 16 27 Word analysis

• For the Son of Man (γὰρ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου – gar ho Huios tou anthrōpou):
  • γὰρ (gar): "For," introducing a reason or explanation. It explains why losing one's life for Christ is logical and necessary, given His certain glorious return and judgment.
  • ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου (ho Huios tou anthrōpou): "The Son of Man." Jesus' preferred self-designation, used about 80 times in the Gospels. Rooted in Dan 7:13-14, it encompasses both His true humanity and His unique, divinely appointed Messianic authority, including the right to judge. This title uniquely bridges the gap between His earthly ministry and His heavenly destiny, setting Him apart as the pre-existent, coming Judge and King.
• is going to come (μέλλει ἔρχεσθαι – mellei erchesthai):
  • μέλλει (mellei): "Is about to, is certainly going to." Denotes a definite and impending future event, emphasizing certainty and necessity, not mere possibility.
  • ἔρχεσθαι (erchesthai): "To come." Refers to His parousia, His second coming.
• in the glory (ἐν τῇ δόξῃ – en tē doxē):
  • δόξῃ (doxē): "Glory." Signifies divine majesty, splendor, visible manifestation of God's presence and attributes (akin to the Old Testament kabod). This contrasts sharply with the humble, suffering Messiah He just described and foreshadows. It signifies a public, undeniable display of divine power and honor.
• of His Father (τοῦ Πατρὸς αὐτοῦ – tou Patros autou): Indicates shared divine essence, authority, and ultimate purpose between Jesus and God the Father. The glory Jesus manifests upon His return is not merely His own, but the very glory of the Father, emphasizing His co-equality and divine appointment.
• with His angels (μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ – meta tōn angelōn autou): Angels serve as the heavenly escort, agents of God's judgment, and participants in the cosmic drama of His return. Their presence highlights the supreme power and majesty of the Son of Man, showing Him as a cosmic King attended by heavenly hosts.
• and will then repay (καὶ τότε ἀποδώσει – kai tote apodōsei):
  • καὶ (kai): "And, then." Connects the coming to the subsequent act of judgment.
  • τότε (tote): "Then, at that time." Pinpoints the timing of the recompense to coincide with His glorious arrival.
  • ἀποδώσει (apodōsei): "Will repay, render, give back." Signifies a just settlement or recompense. It is not arbitrary, but a righteous distribution of due reward or punishment.
• every person (ἑκάστῳ – hekastō): Emphasizes the universality of this judgment. No one is exempt; each individual will stand accountable.
• according to what he has done (κατὰ τὴν πρᾶξιν αὐτοῦ – kata tēn praxin autou):
  • κατὰ (kata): "According to, in proportion to." Denotes the standard or basis of judgment.
  • πρᾶξιν (praxin): "Deed, act, practice, conduct." Refers to external actions, both good and evil, and also implies the inner disposition that motivates them. This confirms that the future judgment will be based on the sum of one's active life, aligning with countless Old and New Testament passages on recompense based on works.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father": This phrase elevates Jesus beyond a mere prophet or human figure, declaring His divine status. His coming is not merely a reappearance, but an enthronement, a public manifestation of the divine power He shares with the Father. It is a coming in full, visible, overwhelming splendor.
• "with His angels": This signifies Jesus' royal entourage and administrative agents for the eschatological events. The angels gather, separate, and execute His will, underscoring His ultimate authority and dominion over creation.
• "and will then repay every person": This establishes Jesus as the supreme Judge over all humanity. The timing "then" implies that this judgment is irrevocably tied to His glorious advent. The judgment is personal and all-encompassing.
• "according to what he has done": This highlights the principle of divine justice, where actions, not mere profession, are the measure. It stresses human accountability and the inherent link between earthly life and eternal destiny. This does not contradict salvation by grace through faith, but emphasizes that true faith produces good works (Eph 2:8-10; James 2:14-26) which are evident before God at judgment. It signifies the perfect righteousness and fairness of Christ's judgment.

Matthew 16 27 Bonus section

The doctrine presented in Matthew 16:27, that the Son of Man will come in glory with angels to judge and recompense according to deeds, stands as a foundational aspect of Christian eschatology and provides strong validation for Jesus' claims of divinity and authority. It links Jesus' humanity ("Son of Man") with His divine prerogative to judge, which the Father has fully entrusted to Him (John 5:22-23). This coming is not a mere metaphorical event but a literal, physical return as attested elsewhere in Scripture. Furthermore, the emphasis on "deeds" (praxis) reinforces that while salvation is by grace through faith, genuine faith inherently produces corresponding works (Eph 2:10; James 2:17), which will be the basis for examination and reward, confirming the authenticity of one's relationship with Christ. This verse thus clarifies the profound seriousness of discipleship and ethical living in light of a future reckoning.

Matthew 16 27 Commentary

Matthew 16:27 is a pivotal statement on eschatological accountability, immediately following Jesus' teaching on radical discipleship. It provides the motivation for taking up one's cross and forsaking self-preservation for the sake of the Gospel. The verse declares the absolute certainty of Christ's second coming, portraying Him not as a meek servant but as the sovereign "Son of Man"—a Danielic figure imbued with universal authority and divine glory, fully aligned with the Father's majesty.

His return will be public and attended by angelic hosts, signaling the final cosmic consummation. At this ultimate revealing, He will act as the universal Judge, dispensing perfect justice. The core of this judgment is that every individual will be repaid "according to what he has done." This principle of recompense, deeply rooted in Old Testament theology, reinforces the solemn truth that human actions—be they expressions of faith through obedience or manifestations of unbelief—carry eternal consequences. It challenges followers to live with eternal perspective, knowing that their faithfulness, self-sacrifice, or denial of Christ in the present moment will be accounted for when the King returns in His glory. This truth prompts disciples to prioritize Kingdom values over temporal gains, living lives of holiness and selfless service motivated by the anticipation of their Master's return and the accompanying divine judgment.