The Glory of the Son
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Text: Matthew 16:21-28
I. To the dismay of his disciples, Jesus began to speak of his pending death. (See also Mark 8:31-9:1 and Luke 9:21-27)
A. They did not realize how important that death was to the plans of God, and when Peter that God would not allow such a thing to happen, Jesus sharply rebukes him.
B. Immediately after announcing his death, Jesus tells his disciples they must be willing to give up everything as well.
1. Saving one’s life for the moment is small payment for losing eternal life.
2. Jesus was going to die, but he would be resurrected.
C. Jesus was going to come in glory with his angels
1. Every man’s deeds would be recompensed.
2. In other words, if you want to be on the winning side, start acting like it.
D. Then comes Jesus statement that some would live to see the day Jesus comes into his kingdom
E. This has caused people a bit of difficulty
1. Verse 27 sounds like Jesus’s second coming, but verse 28 speaks of it occurring within some of their lifetimes
2. Those of us who have been students of the Bible for a while probably recognize that verse 28 is speaking of the church, but then is verse 27 a totally different topic or related to verse 28?
F. One mistake many people make in regards to New Testament prophesy is to assume that most statements dealing with the future is talking about Jesus’s second coming.
1. The New Testament does speak at length of Jesus’s return, but it is not the only thing spoken of.
2. The best thing is to let the Bible define it’s terminology instead of our assuming its meaning.
II. Jesus coming into glory and a kingdom
A. The phrase seems to be an allusion to a prophecy in Daniel 7.
1. After seeing a vision of four terrible beasts, Daniel sees this – Daniel 7:9-12
2. It is a vision of God, and Daniel learns that the beasts despite the boasts would not last.
3. But the vision continues - Daniel 7:13-14
4. Portions of the vision are explained for us - Daniel 7:15-18
5. Yet Daniel was curious about the fourth beast and especially the horn - Daniel 7:21-27
B. This vision is similar to an earlier vision given to Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel 2:31-45
1. An everlasting kingdom would be established during the fourth empire, starting from the Babylonian empire.
C. Daniel 7:13-14 tells us who will rule the kingdom
1. One like a son of Man would receive dominion (rule), glory, and a kingdom.
2. It will be an eternal kingdom made of people from all nations.
D. Compare this to I Corinthians 15:23-28
1. Christ is ruling until all things are subject to him.
2. Compare verse 27 to Ephesians 1:22-23
a. Jesus’ kingdom is the church
3. But with that kingdom came the glory of the Father - Ephesians 1:18-21
E. Jesus has a kingdom, in which he holds the preeminent position - Colossians 1:18
1. I Timothy 6:16 - Jesus has honor and eternal dominion
2. I Peter 4:11 - To Jesus belongs glory and dominion forever
3. I Peter 5:11 - To Jesus belongs dominion forever
4. Revelation 1:6 - He made us a kingdom of priests. To him belongs glory and dominion forever.
5. Revelation 5:13 - To God and Jesus belongs blessings, honor, glory, honor, and dominion forever.
F. Just prior to the statements in Matthew 16:24-28, Jesus promised to build his church, which he also calls the kingdom - Matthew 16:18-19
III. Jesus promised that he would come into his kingdom during the lifetime of some of his listeners.
A. That coming would be with power according to the parallel account in Mark 9:1
B. After he was resurrected, he told his disciples that they would be clothed in power - Luke 24:49
C. Just before his ascension, Jesus said that power would come with the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:8
D. That promise was fulfilled in Acts 2:1 when the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and the Lord’s church was established - Acts 2:41
E. The Lord’s supper would be drunk with Christ in the kingdom - Matthew 26:29
1. Paul shows this is fulfilled in I Corinthians 11:23-26
IV. But what about the part with Jesus coming with his angels to render to each man according to his deeds?
A. Rendering to each man according to his deeds is another way of saying bringing judgment
1. Eternal judgment - Romans 2:5-6
2. When we appear before the judgment seat of Christ - II Corinthians 5:10
B. Similarly the phrase coming with angels also refers to judgment
1. Jude 14-15 - to execute judgment on the ungodly
2. Zechariah 14:5-8 - speaks of God coming to Jerusalem in judgment, yet not final judgment since people flee and living water flows from Jerusalem afterwards.
3. In the description of the fall of Jerusalem - Matthew 24:29-31. I believe this is the same event described in Zechariah 14:5-8
C. Notice a similar phrase is coming on clouds
1. Jesus told the high priest he would see Jesus in power coming on the clouds - Matthew 26:64
2. The destruction of Egypt is describe as God coming on the clouds - Isaiah 19:1
D. The description is that when Jesus comes in glory and his kingdom he will be bringing judgment.
1. It could refer to the final judgment at the end of the world
2. He could be referring to his judgment against Israel for rejecting him and his kingdom.
V. Jesus’s warning to his followers is that if they wish to share in his glory and avoid destruction, they must be loyal.
A. Jesus will only acknowledge his followers - Luke 12:8-9
B. The trustworthy statement - II Timothy 2:10-13
C. Will you not stand for your Savior this day?
