Seeds for 11/29/2023 - Matthew 19:25-30
Scripture: When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Peter answered Him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
Observation: Peter’s question is a natural follow up. Jesus has just indicated that forsaking earthly treasures for the sake of His kingdom will yield heavenly treasures. This is sort of intangible though. Peter doesn’t sound like he’s got buyer’s remorse, like he’s regretting having made the choice to follow Jesus. Still, Jesus can be hard to understand at times. And we all need a little reassurance sometimes.
Two things are addressed in Jesus’ reply.
First, on a global level, Jesus speaks to the symbolic action of calling and raising up the Twelve Disciples amongst all those who have become His followers, and the future role for them in His eternal kingdom. (The Gospels designate them in various ways—The Twelve, the Apostles, the twelve disciples, etc. In all these instances, it is simply differentiating this particular group from the larger general group of disciples/followers.) They will have a role to play vis-a-vis the historic twelve tribes of Israel. They are also representative of those twelve tribes. Jesus’ selection of twelve is a symbolic way of reconstituting the twelve tribes, which would evoke a notion of Jesus as the Messiah and King of this re-formed Israel. It was a Messianic declaration through His action taken.
Second, on a personal level, it is a reaffirmation to Peter that their sacrifices were not in vain but would be honored. Sometimes we simply need to know that the person above us, who we are trusting and following, sees us for who we are and how much we care. Jesus does just that for Peter: Their earthly sacrifices will be repaid many times over in heavenly reward and eternal life—the God-filled life now and in the life to come—will be theirs.
In God’s faithfulness to reward selfless sacrifice, however, He does not surrender His sovereign right to surprise His saved servants. The Divine capacity to mystify disciples remains intact. There are rewards in the heavenly kingdom, yes, but the ranking system is nothing to get wrapped up in: “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
Application:
What helps you keep a heavenly perspective in the midst of earthly life?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, un-clutter my heart that I may prize heavenly treasure and steward earthly treasure, for the sake of your kingdom. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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