Matthew 24:28-30

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Matthew 24:28 tn The same Greek term can refer to “eagles” or “vultures” (L&N 4.42; BDAG 22 s.v. ἀετός), but in this context it must mean vultures because the gruesome image is one of dead bodies being consumed by scavengers.sn Jesus’ answer is that when the judgment comes, the scenes of death will be obvious and so will the location of the judgment. See also Luke 17:37.
2. Matthew 24:28 tn Grk “will be gathered.” The passive construction has been translated as an active one in English.
3. Matthew 24:29 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
4. Matthew 24:29 tn Traditionally, “tribulation.”
5. Matthew 24:29 sn An allusion to Isa 13:10; 34:4 (LXX); Joel 2:10. The heavens were seen as the abode of heavenly forces, so their shaking indicates distress in the spiritual realm. Although some take the powers as a reference to bodies in the heavens (like stars and planets, “the heavenly bodies,” NIV) this is not as likely.
6. Matthew 24:30 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
7. Matthew 24:30 tn Or “in the sky”; the Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context.
8. Matthew 24:30 tn Here τότε (tote, “then”) has not been translated to avoid redundancy in English.
9. Matthew 24:30 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
10. Matthew 24:30 sn An allusion to Dan 7:13. Here is Jesus returning with full authority to judge.