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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just talking about some distant future judgment; he's promising a visible demonstration of his kingdom's power that some of his current listeners would actually experience before they died. This "coming" wasn't just about a final arrival, but about the dawning establishment of his rule, powerfully seen in events like the founding of the Church and the judgment of Jerusalem.
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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone he was the Christ. He then revealed the shocking truth that he must suffer and die, a statement Peter immediately tried to prevent. Jesus rebuked Peter fiercely, calling his human-centered thinking "Satanic," and then began teaching all the disciples about the necessity of self-denial, carrying their crosses, and truly following him, even if it meant losing their earthly lives for the sake of eternal life.
Jesus is about to face suffering and rejection, but He offers a profound promise: some disciples will witness a powerful display of His kingdom before they even die.
Jesus declares that some of his listeners will not die before they "see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." This isn't a vague, far-off event. The scholars agree this points to a tangible manifestation of Christ's authority and reign that would be experienced by those still alive.
What This 'Coming' Isn't:
What This 'Coming' Is:
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In the shadow of Jesus' prediction of His own suffering, He issues a stark call to His disciples: following Him means embracing a life radically different from worldly desires.
Immediately after promising a glimpse of His kingdom's power, Jesus pivots to the harsh reality of discipleship. Calvin highlights that this teaching is a direct response to Peter's attempt to shield Jesus from suffering, showing that human reasoning is often opposed to God's plan.
The Essentials of Discipleship:
The Eternal Perspective:
Jesus contrasts the fleeting nature of worldly gain with the eternal value of the soul. He asks, 'For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?' This radical reorientation helps us understand why self-denial and cross-bearing are necessary – they protect our eternal destiny.
Understand the original words
thanatos · Greek Noun
The experience of dying or the state of cessation of physical life.
basileia · Greek Noun
The sovereign rule, reign, or authority of God; it refers to the reality of God’s dominion being established on earth as it is in heaven.
This verse points to the coming establishment of Christ's kingdom, understood by many scholars not as the final judgment, but as the powerful spread of the gospel and the establishment of the Church, especially marked by events like Pentecost and the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred within the lifetime of some of Jesus' disciples.
c. AD 28
Jesus predicts his suffering
Jesus first explicitly tells his disciples that he must suffer, be killed, and be raised again. This is met with disbelief and protest, particularly from Peter.
c. AD 28
Jesus teaches about discipleship and self-denial
In response to Peter's rejection of his suffering, Jesus broadly teaches the cost of discipleship, emphasizing self-denial and carrying one's cross.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus promises kingdom manifestation
Jesus assures some disciples that they will witness the 'Son of Man coming in his kingdom' before they die, indicating a significant event to come.
c. AD 29
The Transfiguration
Peter, James, and John witness Jesus' glory on a mountaintop, seeing him speak with Moses and Elijah. This is seen by some as a foretaste of his kingdom.
AD 33
The Day of Pentecost
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples, empowering them to preach the gospel. This marks a significant expansion of Christ's kingdom.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and its temple, a catastrophic event for the Jewish people and a sign of judgment that some disciples lived to witness.
This passage from Mark provides a parallel account to Matthew's, clarifying Jesus' words by stating the disciples would see 'the kingdom of God come with power,' which strongly supports the interpretation of Jesus referring to the establishment of his church and ministry, not just his final return.
Luke 9:27Luke's version also aligns with this interpretation, saying 'till they see the kingdom of God.' This cross-reference reinforces that Jesus was speaking about a significant manifestation of God's reign that would occur within the lifetime of some of his listeners.
Acts 1:6-8In this passage, the disciples ask Jesus if he will 'restore the kingdom to Israel' at that very time. Jesus' response, promising them 'power' after the Holy Spirit comes and they become his witnesses, directly connects to the 'coming in his kingdom' mentioned in Matthew 16:28, highlighting the outpouring of the Spirit as a manifestation of his reign.
John 21:22-23Jesus' words to Peter about John, 'If I will that he remain till I come,' show a similar concept of a disciple remaining until a specific 'coming' of the Lord. This illustrates Jesus' use of 'coming' to refer to events beyond his physical death and resurrection, often involving the ongoing work of his kingdom.
Revelation 1:7This verse speaks of Christ 'coming with the clouds' and 'every eye will see him.' While this refers to the ultimate final coming, it provides a contrast to the more immediate 'coming in his kingdom' that Jesus described in Matthew 16:28, emphasizing that the disciples would witness a significant manifestation of his reign before their physical deaths.
barnesMatthew 16:28: "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."
Verily I say unto you ... - To encourage them, he assured them that, though his kingdom was now obscure and despised - though he was cast out and little known - yet the time was near when he would be regarded in a different manner, and his kingdom be established with great power. This cannot refer to the end of the world, and there is no need o…
calvinMatthew 16:20-28: "Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ."
- Then he charged his disciples [451] not to tell any one that he was Jesus the Christ. 21. From that time Jesus began to make known to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and be raised again on the third day. 22. And Peter, taking him aside, [452] began to rebuke him, saying, Lord, s…
Jesus isn't just talking about some distant future judgment; he's promising a visible demonstration of his kingdom's power that some of his current listeners would actually experience before they died. This "coming" wasn't just about a final arrival, but about the dawning establishment of his rule, powerfully seen in events like the founding of the Church and the judgment of Jerusalem.
Just before this, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone he was the Christ. He then revealed the shocking truth that he must suffer and die, a statement Peter immediately tried to prevent. Jesus rebuked Peter fiercely, calling his human-centered thinking "Satanic," and then began teaching all the disciples about the necessity of self-denial, carrying their crosses, and truly following him, even if it meant losing their earthly lives for the sake of eternal life.
Just before this, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone he was the Christ. He then revealed the shocking truth that he must suffer and die, a statement Peter immediately tried to prevent. Jesus rebuked Peter fiercely, calling his human-centered thinking "Satanic," and then began teaching all the disciples about the necessity of self-denial, carrying their crosses, and truly following him, even if it meant losing their earthly lives for the sake of eternal life.
"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.”" — Jesus isn't just talking about some distant future judgment; he's promising a visible demonstration of his kingdom's power that some of his current listeners would actually experience before they die…
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Last reviewed October 2026