The Matthew 10:23 Conundrum
Dr. Randy White
Matthew 10 is a set of commands to the twelve apostles. The words are given exclusively to the 12, a fact that is borne out four times in the first five verses. They are not commands that should be taken as general commands for all disciples of Jesus Christ. By making them general commands, many have taken a “bind the devil, heal the sick, raise the dead” approach to ministry (see Matthew 10:8). Strangely, the same proponents of a general application don’t seem as keen on Matthew 10:9, “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts.”Of the many issues that could be written about in Matthew 10, for the purposes of this article I want to focus on verse 23, “When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 10:23, NKJV)The 12 were sent to preach the Kingdom of God to Israel (and Israel alone-see vv. 5-6). By verse 16, Jesus instructs the 12 that the prognosis was not good. Rather than success, they would be going out as sheep among wolves, and would be handed over to the courts and scourged in the synagogues. They were to endure to the end, relying on the yet-to-come Holy Spirit to give them the words they would need. In the end, however, Jesus said they would not finish the job, until the Son of Man comes.The wording of this phrase is not difficult to translate, but it is difficult to interpret. The Greek grammar uses the double negative for emphasis (unlike the English in which a negative negates another negative, making a positive). So the Greek says, “you will not, no not even possibly complete the task until the Son of Man comes.”Possible InterpretationsThe clearest interpretation of this passage is that the Apostles would still be continuing their work when the Son of Man arrived. The main problem with this interpretation is that the Son of Man was already there, talking to them. To solve this, we can let Scripture interpret Scripture. Even though Jesus consistently referred to Himself as Son of Man (an unquestionably Messianic term), when the Bible refers to the coming of the Son of Man it is always a reference to the coming in Glory, not in humility, thus of the Second Coming of Christ. This picture begins in Daniel 7:13-14 and is seen powerfully in the Olivet Discourse, especially in Matthew 25:31.So how can Jesus be telling the Apostles that they will not finish their task before the Second Coming?Here are some of the interpretations that have been put forth—
- World-famous commentator Albert Barnes says that, “by the coming of the Son of Man, that is, of Christ, is probably meant the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened about thirty years after this was spoken.”[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=“yes” overflow=“visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=“1_1” background_position=“left top” background_color=“” border_size=“” border_color=“” border_style=“solid” spacing=“yes” background_image=“” background_repeat=“no-repeat” padding=“” margin_top=“0px” margin_bottom=“0px” class=“” id=“” animation_type=“” animation_speed=“0.3” animation_direction=“left” hide_on_mobile=“no” center_content=“no” min_height=“none”][1] The problem with this verse is that most of the 12, from what we know in extra-Biblical sources, did not even live to the destruction of Jerusalem (John being the clear exception). Even more difficult is that there is no Biblical basis for equating the destruction of Jerusalem with the coming of the Son of Man.
- Many of the pre-reformers, along with the reformer John Calvin, taught that Jesus was teaching about the coming of the Holy Spirit. However, this is unacceptable theologically, since the Son is not the Spirit, and the “Son of Man” is never a reference to the Spirit. Furthermore, the events of this verse take place after the arrival of the Spirit, who was already promised to give them words to speak while they were imprisoned.
- Liberal theologian Albert Schweitzer claimed that Jesus simply did not know, and that He made a prediction that proved to be false.
- George Eldon Ladd takes the approach that the passage is true for all disciples of Jesus Christ, that His disciples will be ministering in Israel until the end of time, and that “the new people of God are to have a concern for Israel until the end of time.”[2] The problem with this is the clear four-fold reference to 12 Apostles, including their names, given at the beginning of chapter 10 . This kind of thinking is why Vineyard Church founder John Wimber claimed that his Kingdom-connected charismatic theology would not have been possible without the “already/not-yet” kingdom teachings of Ladd.
- A number of dispensationalists have said that the Triumphal entry and/or the appearance of the Son of Man in glory on the Mount of Transfiguration were the reference point for the Matthew 10:23 prophecy. While both of these events do foreshadow His coming as King, they are likely not in view in this passage. The Triumphal Entry was a prophetic fulfillment of Zechariah 9, important in itself, but not “the coming of the Son of Man.” The Transfiguration as a real glimpse of “the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Mt. 16:28), it is not something that all 12 of the Apostles saw. It does not appear that Jesus was making reference to a glimpse or a type yet to come.
- “You (12) will work continuously until the Son of Man comes.”
- “You (12) will work, but will not finish your task until after the Son of Man comes.”
- “You (12) will work, but will not complete your task. Then, at a later time, the Son of Man will come.”