As has been pointed out, Jesus does not always speak of events in a chronological order, so trying to place the verses in a 1, 2, 3 sequence misses the message. The message is the destruction and the signs leading up to it. The statements that Jesus made are interconnected so verse 30 is a continuation of verse 29. The powers of the Jews will begin to be finally overthrown and that overthrow will be completed by the assault on Jerusalem by the Roman army.

Verse 30 seems to present a problem for many commentators and Bible students. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And previously written in this series, taking the message verse by verse rather than using a larger context and relying on the Old Testament imagery, clouds the meaning of many verses. Is it possible to understand the meaning of the appearance of the Son of man in heaven? It is by shedding preconceived ideas and allowing the Bible to tell us the message.

To begin understanding verse 30, the verb form must be determined. It is erchomai-erchomenon (See discussion of the verb in Part VII) a participle that acts as a verb in the accusative case -Voice/action Middle/Passive Deponent. The use of the verb when referring to the coming of Jesus is always the same form. It refers to a representative of some kind. Verse 30 then is referring to a figurative coming through a representative. The passive means that the subject, Jesus, is not the actor. He is being acted upon by someone or something else on his behalf.

When Jesus spoke of the sign for the appearance of the Son of Man, he told how he was going to appear. What was the sign? In Luke 21:20-28. The sign is in verse 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Look at verses 25-27. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Those are nearly identical to Matthew 24:29:30.

What did Jesus mean by heaven? Heaven has three parts. The first heaven is the atmosphere where people live and the birds fly. The second is where the planets orbit in space and the third is the abode of God. Instead of looking up when Jesus spoke of the sign in heaven, he was speaking of the atmosphere where we live and the sign was the Roman army advancing on Jerusalem. The tribes (Jews) of the earth (land) did mourn because Jesus came in the power of the Roman army. The last part of the verse: coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory is the expression used 4 times in the New Testament and brings us to the use of who in 24:3 instead of what.

God used representatives of various kinds to show his presence though the years. When the people saw the army approaching Jerusalem, they knew the time of which Jesus spoke was arriving, and the last part of the verse 30 is the Roman army being the representative of Jesus and his power which would show the glory of Jesus. Who then is the correct word for verse 3 since the re army is composed of people. That is the personification and representation of Jesus when Jerusalem was destroyed.     

It is worthy to note that the disciples did not ask but one question, verse 3, in the entire discourse of chapter 24. They questioned nothing that Jesus said. They did ask one question much earlier in chapter 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? Then in verse 11 Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Now verses 12-17 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. The disciples heard the message while many others didn’t. They had no need to question Jesus in Matthew 24.

Part XIII will continue with a word study for sign and signs in other books and Matthew 24. The verses following verse 30 will be in part XIV.     © 09-18-2012 DEC