Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 24:30

"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 on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." — Matthew 24:30 (ASV)

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 (Matthew 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 Thessalonians 4:16; Luke 21:27; Matthew 26:64; Acts 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 (Revelation 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 (John 19:37; Zechariah 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 (Acts 1:9). He shall return in like manner (Acts 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 will be manifest:

• By consuming the material world (2 Peter 3:7, 10, 12).
• By raising the dead (John 5:29–30; 1 Corinthians 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 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:52).
• By bringing the affairs of the world to a close, receiving the righteous to heaven (Matthew 25:34; 1 Corinthians 15:57).
• And by sending the wicked, however numerous or however strong, down to hell (Matthew 25:41, 46; John 5:29).

Great glory. The word glory here means the visible display of his honor and majesty. This glory will be manifested:

• By the manner of his coming (Matthew 26:64).
• By the presence of the angels (Matthew 25:31).
• And by the wonders that shall attend him down the sky.