Anchor My Faith

Previous Lesson
Next Lesson
Author: Stephen Weller
739 words, 4 minutes read time

Rewards For Following Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 19:27-28; Mark 10:29-31

With the previous lesson we finished our study of the rich young ruler and the difficulty the wealthy have in obtaining salvation. With this lesson we will cover the next section, which is about the rewards for those who follow Jesus.

^{Mt 19:27} ‘Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”’

In the previous section the rich young ruler went away from Jesus sorrowful, for he had great possessions and did not want to give any of it away. In contrast to that, Peter tells Jesus that they, the disciples, have left everything to follow him and they wonder what their gain will be.

^{Mt 19:28} “Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”’

Underneath the phrase “in the new world” is the Greek word “palingenesias” and is found only here and in Titus 3:5 and means new birth, regeneration and renewal. Because of the context here in Matthew it is translated “new world” and in Titus as “regeneration.” In both cases the underlying idea is that which follows the process of regeneration; a new heavens and earth in Matthew and a spiritual birth in Titus. In the future when the disciples truly understand and believe in Jesus, they will be born spiritually. As regenerated souls, they will have authority (sitting on thrones) to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

This reward or benefit that the disciples were looking for was not to be found now but in a future period of time “in the new world” and is described in 2 Peter 3:10 – 15 (ESV) as follows:

¹⁰ “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

¹¹ “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, ¹² waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! ¹³ But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

¹⁴ “Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”

The verse in Matthew speaks of a time in the regeneration when all things are made new when the disciples will reign with Jesus and would receive much more than they gave up in following him. They would be rewarded for their sacrifice as we who faithfully follow Jesus will be. Many who are seen as great in the eyes of the world will be passed over while many who are lowly and overlooked in the world will be brought forth to receive their reward in the regeneration.

^{Mk 10:29} “There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”

It is not only the disciples of Jesus who will receive a reward for sacrificing to follow Jesus, but anyone. Those who forsake much, as those currently living in countries of persecution, will receive a hundredfold for their sacrifice; the main benefit being eternal life.

^{Mk 10:31} “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Conclusion

Many who are seen as great in the eyes of the world will be last in the kingdom of heaven, while many who are lowly and overlooked will receive the greater reward. It is not the riches of the world that we should seek, but the richness of life and the kindness of God’s grace that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ.