Does Matthew 26:64 describe immediate or future events?

Question

"You have said so," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: From now on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:64 NIV.

I´ve had a lot of discomfort in trying to understand this passage. What exactly does ¨from now¨ or ¨hereafter¨ mean? Does Jesus mean he will immediately sit at the right hand? Or is it in the future?

People, who know greek, what exactly does ἀπ’ἄρτι mean? Is it in the future or a present action that's going to take place? I´ve heard it means now, and others say it means future.

Answer 1

Such an excellent and important question!!

A more literal rendering of Matt 26:63, 64 (BSB) gives:

Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” “You [pl] have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you [pl], from now on you [pl] will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

There are several things to observe about Jesus reply:

• It was in response to the question from the Jewish High Priest as to whether Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus does not deny this.
• The "you" Jesus addresses is plural - Jesus is addressing the all the people for whom the High priest was speaking - all the Jews and (later) Christians who accept Jesus as Messiah.
• Jesus also adds to what the High Priest says by then claiming the Jesus is not only Messiah, the Son of God (see Ps 110, Dan 7:13) but ALSO, the king of Jews who inherits David's royal throne (Luke 1:32, 33, John 1:49).
• Jesus then ADDS another dimension - they would also see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven, presumably at a later date.

The New Testament makes much of this and often refers to Jesus occupying the throne in heaven at His ascension: Matt 26:64, Mark 14:62, 16:19, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:33, 7:55-56 (standing), Rom 8:34, Eph 1:20, Col 3:1, Heb 1:3, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22. See also Ps 110:1, Matt 22:44, Mark 12:36, Acts 2:34, Heb 1:13, Rev 5.

We also see the NT regularly discussing the second coming of Jesus in the clouds of heaven: Dan 7:13, Matt 24:30, 26:64, Mark 14:62, Rev 1:7.

Thus, Jesus' reply in Matt 26:64 simply says that very shortly after that conversation, "from now on" (only three days later in fact); Jesus would be seated at the right hand of God in heaven; AND, thereafter, people would also see Jesus in the clouds of heaven as per Rev 1:7.

Bengel offers these insights in commenting on Matt 26:64 -

From this time forward, etc.[1162]) From this time forward, it shall come to pass that ye shall see and know, by visible proofs, that I am HE who shall sit on the right hand of power, and come in the clouds of heaven. A pregnant mode of expression (sermo complexus). Henceforward YE SHALL SEE me sitting and COMING.[1163] The return to judgment is combined with the sitting on the right hand: and after the Lord’s Passion they believed (see John 8:28), that which hereafter they shall see. They did not believe in the past; therefore Jesus (as He frequently did) appeals to the future. In the glory of Jesus this is the first thing, that He is the Son of God: that He will come to judgment is the last. The former is the foundation of the latter; the latter the most glorious proof of the former.

Answer 2

Matthew 26:64

"You have said so," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

https://biblehub.com/matthew/26-64.htm

from
ἀπ’ (ap’)
Preposition
Strong's Greek 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

now on
ἄρτι (arti)
Adverb
Strong's Greek 737: Now, just now, at this moment. Adverb from a derivative of airo through the idea of suspension; just now.

ἀπ’ἄρτιare is just a preposition followed by an adverb. There is nothing special about this phrase. It means from now on into the future. The main verb here is

you will see
ὄψεσθε (opsesthe)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

The indicative mood shows matters of facts: the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Some months later, at the stoning of the first Christian martyr in Acts 7:55

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

It is also confirmed in Hebrews 12:2

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In the future, we will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.

Answer 3

Does Matthew 26:64 describe immediate or future events?

It is a future action that will take place,"the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."Jesus was alluding to the Messianic prophecy at Daniel 7:13-14 which reads:

Daniel 7:13-14 NASB

The Son of Man Presented

13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a son of man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14 And to Him was given dominion, Honor, and [a]a kingdom, So that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all [b]languages Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

Here Jesus declares that he would be the one who would gain access to the Ancient of Days that is God's presence and be given rulership in heaven.

Acts 7:55-56 NET

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently toward heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look!” he said. “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Luke 22:69 NET

But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

Answer 4

לָכֶם עֲדַיִן תִּרְאוּ בֶּן הָאֵל (Matthew 26:64 Shem Tob's Hebrew Gospel of Matthew)

So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still(H5728) alive. But better than both is the one who has not been born(H5728) and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. (Eccl. 4:2-3 NET)

"you will see the son of man" (Matthew 26:64 Shem Tob's Hebrew Gospel of Matthew)

The form of the verb תִּרְאוּ (qal imperfect, plural) appears in Gen. 43:3, 5; Jdg. 7:17; 1 Sam. 21:15; 2 Ki. 3:17; Job 6:21; Isa. 18:3. 30:10; Jer. 14:13, 42:18 and Ezek. 14:23

The conjugation of an imperfect Hebrew verb, also called a volitional verb, expresses an incomplete action in the past, in the present, and evidently incomplete in the future, the latter being the majority of cases.

However, the adverb עֲדַיִן modifies and describes the verb תִּרְאוּ as to time: "till now"

Conclusion: Matthew 26:64 describe immediate events.

Answer 5

Immediacy The Greek, aparti is translated as "from now on, henceforth, now onward." (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, Zondervan reprint, 1889, 1974, p. 54) So "immediacy" is what Jesus was highlighting. The NIV is correctly translating this: From now on...

You will See... To better understand this passage and its possible fulfilment in this time frame, a reference to the Greek word for "see" is in order. ('oraw) Thayer pointed out four nuances of this word (p. 451)

1. To see with physical eyes: observation (Lu 16:23)
2. To see with the mind: perceive (Rom 15:21)
3. To become acquainted with by experience (John 3:36)
4. To see to: take heed (Mt 8:4)

So which ever one fits this context is appropriate. A "perception" (not physical) of Jesus's divine authority exhibited by the Destruction of Jerusalem, with the subsequent institution of the Kingdom of God to take its place, would be a possible deduction. You will discern clearly linked with from now on, one would be justified in this approach.

At the Right Hand There is an abundance of scriptural evidence that states that Jesus was elevated to the Father's right hand in the first century. That is not a future reality, but an accomplished event. (Acts 7:55, Hebrews 12:2, Ephesians 1:19-22) This fact fits in with the immediacy of the previous phrase.

Coming on the Clouds It is this phrase in this verse that is a cause for consternation: the phrase about coming on the clouds! What does this mean, and when does it occur?

A survey of Old Testament wordage and illustrations given by the prophets would clear this up. There are several meanings of "coming by God." God came down at Mt. Sinai; God came to deliver the Israelites; and God came in Judgment on a nation. The prophets also spoke of the Coming of Messiah. (Do research on Psalm 40:7, 118:26, Isaiah 35:4, Malachi 3:1,2, 4:5 Also John 14:18, I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you...) But most dramatically, in the O.T., it refers to God coming to judge an evil nation.

All of You Finally, notice to whom the Lord is speaking: Caiaphas, the scribes and the elders (26:57), that is, the plurality of people. Plural pronouns are used by Jesus. Jesus is addressing the corrupt leaders of Israel, upon whom the Judgment of God is going to fall. Jesus was going to come in judgment and destroy that nation! And this prophecy was truly fulfilled between 67 and 70 A.D.

Notice also that this figurative language was used in Daniel 7, when it described the coronation of Jesus, and the establishing of the Kingdom of God (with it also being conferred to the saints, Daniel 7:27 cf. Luke 22:29) Out with the old, and in with the new (Hebrews 8:13)

Second Coming This interpretation does not take away from the fact that Jesus will come again at the end of the world. There is a major second coming that lies ahead...unannounced and without warning...but glorious and awesome, which is the fantastic hope of all Christians.