Mat 24:29-30 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 24:29-31: 24:29-31 These sayings form the climax of the discourse and answer the second of the disciples’ initial questions (see 24:3 ). Some take 24:29-31 to refer to God’s judgment on the Jewish people in AD 70, using apocalyptic images and metaphors to describe it. Others see a reference to the second coming of Christ at the end of history. 24:29 the sun will be darkened ... will be shaken: This phenomenon can be taken literally, as befitting the climactic self-disclosure of God’s Son, or metaphorically, as for a cosmically significant event (see Acts 2:17-21 ; Heb 12:26-27 ; 2 Pet 3:10 ; Rev 6:12-13 ). Similar apocalyptic language is used frequently in the Old Testament for describing political disasters and the collapse of a government as cosmic judgments from God (e.g., Isa 13:9-16 ; Ezek 32:1-10 ; Joel 2:1-17 ; Amos 8:7-10 ).

Summary for Matt 24:29-31: 24:29-31 ^a These sayings form the climax of the discourse and answer the second of the disciples’ initial questions (see 24:3 ^b). Some take 24:29-31 ^c to refer to God’s judgment on the Jewish people in AD 70, using apocalyptic images and metaphors to describe it. Others see a reference to the second coming of Christ at the end of history. 24:29 ^d the sun will be darkened ... will be shaken: This phenomenon can be taken literally, as befitting the climactic self-disclosure of God’s Son, or metaphorically, as for a cosmically significant event (see Acts 2:17-21 ^e; Heb 12:26-27 ^f; 2 Pet 3:10 ^g; Rev 6:12-13 ^h). Similar apocalyptic language is used frequently in the Old Testament for describing political disasters and the collapse of a government as cosmic judgments from God (e.g., Isa 13:9-16 ⁱ; Ezek 32:1-10 ^j; Joel 2:1-17 ^k; Amos 8:7-10 ^l).
24:30 ^m the sign that the Son of Man is coming (literally the sign of the Son of Man): The sign is probably the Son of Man himself (see 12:38-42 ⁿ; 16:4 ^o). His coming expresses his vindication (see 26:64 ^p) and will bring deep mourning to those who experience God’s judgment.

• All the peoples of the earth could be translated all the tribes of the land. The term used here is not the usual Greek term for Gentile nations (ethnoi), but a term used frequently of the tribes (phulai) of Israel (the land), suggesting that a national disaster in Israel might be in view (see 21:43 ^q; Zech 12:10-14 ^r).

• the Son of Man coming on the clouds: See Dan 7:13 ^s. Many believe that this means a descent of the Son of Man from God’s presence to reside on earth as Judge and Deliverer—i.e., the second coming of Christ. Others have argued that this describes the Son of Man coming in judgment, but not necessarily the second coming of Christ (see Matt 10:23 ^t; 16:27 ^u; 19:28 ^v; 25:31 ^w; 26:64 ^x; 28:18 ^y).