Reflection On The Righteous Will Shine Like The Sun

3.1 The Righteous Will Shine like the Sun (13.43)

Matt 13.43, which is a part of the conclusion of the Matthean parable of the tares, states that the righteous will shine like the sun (τότε οἱ δίκαιοι ἐκλάμψουσιν ὡς ὁ ἥλιος) in the kingdom of their father (ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν). τότε refers this verse to 13.39 and thus indicates that the time that the righteous will shine is the end of the age (συντέλεια αἰῶνός) , that is, the eschaton. Matthew frequently regards God as the father of Jesus’ followers (cf. 5.16, 45, 48; 6.1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 18, 26, 32; 7.11; 10.20, 29; 18.14; 23.9). Given another eschatological scene that Jesus’ followers will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (8.11), ‘the kingdom of their father’ means the heavenly realm

This eschatological glorification of Jesus’ followers, indeed, reflects the notion of angelification in line with Second Temple Judaism.

First, although the word ‘sun’ (ἥλιος) does not appear, Daniel, the Epistle of Enoch, and 2 Baruch contain the motif of shining/light as Matt 13.43 and 17.2, ‘Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven’ (Dan 12.3a); ‘Be hopeful! For you were formerly put to shame through evils and afflictions, but now you will shine like the lights of heaven’ (1 En 104.2a); ‘The shape of their face will be changed into the light of their beauty so that they may acquire and receive the undying world which is promised to them’ (2 Bar 51.3c). The motif of shining/light is closely related to the notion of angelification. As Collins suggests, since the angels were thought to be star-like,