Matthew 19:25-30

Matthew 19:25-30
After Jesus’ comments about the difficulty of a rich man entering the kingdom, the apostles were astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Their astonishment primarily comes from the typical belief of their day that God had purposely blessed the rich because of their exemplary service to Him. Such fit in with the Jewish idea of salvation based on one’s personal righteousness and goodness. Jesus’ reply is just the beginning of correcting their misunderstanding: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Salvation cannot be obtained by the good works a man does. We cannot live in such a way so as to put God in our debt. Our sins, no matter how few, have separated us from God (Rom. 6:23; Isa. 59:1-2). The problem with the ruler was that he had looked for a particular set of works he could do that would give him salvation. However, salvation begins with God’s mercy and no set of works can earn mercy, or else mercy would no longer be mercy. As Jesus commanded the ruler, a man must give up his life in response to the grace God has offered. Nothing less is reasonable worship (Rom. 12:1).
The apostles followed up with the question of what they would receive since they had given everything up. Jesus had a three-part answer.
First, in the regeneration, they would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. In other words, by their inspired words they would sit as judges over the kingdom of Christ. Christ would begin His reign in Acts 2. The apostles teaching (Acts 2:42) would be the standard upon with spiritual Israel, the church, would be judged.
Second, everyone who made such sacrifices would be rewarded with a hundred times more – in a spiritual sense – in the kingdom. One may lose their physical family and possessions for the cause of the Lord, but would regain it and more in the spiritual family of God.
Third, the first will be last and the last will be first. In other words, those you might think would be first in the kingdom will actually be last (lost, left out – like the ruler), and those who you think would be last in the kingdom (the poor, the sinner, and the Gentile), will be first (because they will seek the mercy of the Lord. Jesus will explain this statement more fully in the parable of chapter 20:1-16.
Berry Kercheville