John Calvin Commentary Matthew 16:27

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds." — Matthew 16:27 (ASV)

For the Son of man will come. So that the doctrine just presented may more deeply affect our minds, Christ places the future judgment before our eyes. For if we are to perceive the worthlessness of this fading life, we must be deeply affected by the view of the heavenly life.

Our mind is so slow and sluggish that it needs the help of looking towards heaven. Christ summons believers to His judgment seat to lead them to reflect at all times that they lived for no other purpose than to long for that blessed redemption, which will be revealed at the proper time.

This admonition is intended to inform us that those who set a higher value on the confession of faith than on their own life do not strive in vain. “Place your lives fearlessly,” He says, “in My hand and under My protection; for I will eventually appear as your avenger and will fully restore you, though for a time you may seem to have perished.”

In the glory of the Father, with His angels. These are mentioned to guard His disciples against judging His kingdom by present appearances. For until now He was unknown and despised, being concealed under the form and condition of a servant. He assures them that it will be far different when He appears as the Judge of the world. As for the remaining part of the passage in Mark and Luke, the reader will find it explained in connection with Matthew chapter 10.⁴⁶⁹

And then He will render to every one according to his actions. I have treated the reward of works as fully as was necessary in connection with another passage.⁴⁷⁰ It amounts to this: When a reward is promised to good works, their merit is not contrasted with the justification that is freely bestowed on us through faith. Nor is it pointed out as the cause of our salvation, but is only held out to excite believers to aim at doing what is right,⁴⁷¹ by assuring them that their labor will not be lost. There is a perfect agreement, therefore, between these two statements: that we are justified freely (Romans 3:24), because we are received into God’s favor without any merit;⁴⁷² and yet that God, of His own good pleasure, bestows on our works a reward that we did not deserve.

⁴⁶⁹ Harmony, vol. 1 p. 466..

⁴⁷⁰ “Alibi is a general reference, but is a general reference, but en un autre passage is more specific; and the passage to which he probably refers the reader for a distinct exhibition of his views, and in which, so far as I remember, he handles this subject more fully than in any other part of the Gospels, is is more specific; and the passage to which he probably refers the reader for a distinct exhibition of his views, and in which, so far as I remember, he handles this subject more fully than in any other part of the Gospels, is John 4:36.” — .” — Ed..

⁴⁷¹ “A faire bonnes oeuvres;” — “to do good works.”;” — “to do good works.”

⁴⁷² “Sans que nous en soyons dignes, ou l’ayons meritd;” — “without being worthy of it, or having deserved it.”;” — “without being worthy of it, or having deserved it.”