Barnes New Testament Notes

Verse 30. The sign of the Son of man. The evidence that Christ is coming to destroy the city of Jerusalem. It is not to be denied, however, that this description is applicable also to his coming at the day of judgment. The disciples had asked him, Mt 24:3 what should be the sign of his coming, and of the end of the world. In his answer, he has reference to both events, and his language may be regarded as descriptive of both. At the destruction of Jerusalem, the sign or evidence of his coming was found in the fulfillment of these predictions. At the end of the world, the sign of his coming will be his personal approach with the glory of his Father and the holy angels, 1 Th 4:16; Lu 21:27; Mt 26:64; Ac 1:11.

All the tribes of the earth mourn. This is, either all the tribes or people of the land of Judea shall mourn at the great calamities coming upon them, or all the nations of the world shall wail when He comes to judgment. All the wicked shall mourn at the prospect of their doom, Re 1:7. The cause of their wailing at the day of judgment shall be chiefly that they have pierced, killed, rejected the Saviour, and that they deserve the condemnation that is coming upon them, Joh 19:37; Zec 12:12.

And they shall see the Son of man. The Lord Jesus coming to judgment. Probably this refers more directly to his coming at the last day, though it may also mean that the evidence of his coming to destroy Jerusalem shall then be seen.

In the clouds of heaven. He ascended in a cloud, Ac 1:9. He shall return in like manner, Ac 1:11. The clouds of heaven denote not the clouds in heaven, but the clouds that appear to shut heaven, or the sky, from our view.

With power. Power, manifest in the destruction of Jerusalem, by the wonders that preceded it, and by the overturning of the temple and city. In the day of judgment, power manifest by consuming the material world, 2 Pe 3:7,10,12

by raising the dead, Joh 5:29,30; 1 Co 15:52

by changing those who may be alive when he shall come; that is, making their bodies like those who have died, and been raised up, 1 Th 4:17; 1 Co 15:52 by bringing the affairs of the world to a close, receiving the righteous to heaven, Mt 25:34; 1 Co 15:57 and by sending the wicked, however numerous or however strong, down to hell, Mt 25:41,46; Joh 5:29.

Great glory. The word glory here means the visible display of his honour and majesty. This glory will be manifested by the manner of his coming, Mt 26:64 by the presence of the angels, Mt 25:31; and by the wonders that shall attend him down the sky.

{c} "of man in" Da 7:13; Re 1:7 {d} "and they shall" Mt 16:27; Mr 13:26; Lu 22:69