Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 16:28

"Verily I say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." — Matthew 16:28 (ASV)

For the interpretation of this verse, see comments on 10:23 and Mk 9:1. It seems best to take this verse as having a general reference to the manifestation of Christ’s kingly reign exhibited after the Resurrection in a host of ways, not the least of them being the rapid multiplication of disciples and the mission to the Gentiles. Some of those standing there would live to see Jesus’ Gospel proclaimed throughout the Roman Empire and a rich “harvest” (cf. 9:37–38) of converts reaped for Jesus Messiah. This interpretation best suits the flexibility of the “kingdom” concept in the Synoptic Gospels (12:28) and the present context. Thus v.28 does not refer to the same thing as 10:23. At this point in salvation history it is the power of the kingdom working through Jesus’ disciples that calls the church into being .