Post by ResLight on May 15, 2014 15:34:17 GMT -5
Then Peter answered, "Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?" -- Matthew 19:27, RLIV.
Peter's question reflects the question many have either openly asked, or at least reflected upon, concerning their endeavor to walk in Christ's footsteps. Jesus' answer shows that in the times of regeneration, they would receive a reward of sitting on the throne with him, and would judge the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28) In the Greek, Jesus in his answer, used the plural form of the pronoun "you", showing that he was not speaking only to Peter only but to all of his apostles. However, one of them, the one known as Judas Iscariot, proved himself unfaithful, and certainly will not be one throne with Jesus. Did Jesus make an error in saying that Judas would sit on the throne with him? No, for it should be evident that Jesus was speaking in prospectively of the reward set before the apostles, based on the condition that they meet the terms of discipleship that would make them joint-heirs with himself. Thus, it should be understood that this reward would be given only if they proved themselves faithful.
Jesus further answered: "Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:29, RLIV) Here Jesus speaks beyond his twelve apostles as says includes "everone" who has foresaken family for his name's sake. Luke records Jesus statement as: "And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you , There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world [age] to come life everlasting." (Luke 18:29,30) This makes it clear that Jesus was saying that there is a reward in this present age, and even further reward in the age to come. Those who foresake family for Christ in this age do indeed receive many brothers and sisters in Christ, indeed, so many that, in most cases they are more than a hundred times our own small family relationships, thus the expression a hundred times more as recorded in Matthew is not setting a limit, but is being used as a synonym of "manifold".
All who have left houses, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, etc., for Christ's sake, will receive everlasting life in the age to come. This does not necessarily mean that they will sit on throne with Jesus, for not all will have met the requirements of overcoming in this age so that they receive that high reward of joint-heirship with Christ. This does not mean that they recive no reward at all; for they, as being sons of God, still have an inheritance, although they lose out in attaining the highest reward of joint-heirship. -- Romans 8:16,17.
Regardless of what reward one receives in the age to come, it is still much higher and greater than any "reward" that Satan can offer, or that this world can offer. With the hope in view, those who belong to Christ are thus encouraged to joyfully endure the hardships of this present life, realizing all this present world has to offer is as nothing in comparison to that which is to come. -- Romans 8:18; Philippians 3:7-14.
Peter's question reflects the question many have either openly asked, or at least reflected upon, concerning their endeavor to walk in Christ's footsteps. Jesus' answer shows that in the times of regeneration, they would receive a reward of sitting on the throne with him, and would judge the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28) In the Greek, Jesus in his answer, used the plural form of the pronoun "you", showing that he was not speaking only to Peter only but to all of his apostles. However, one of them, the one known as Judas Iscariot, proved himself unfaithful, and certainly will not be one throne with Jesus. Did Jesus make an error in saying that Judas would sit on the throne with him? No, for it should be evident that Jesus was speaking in prospectively of the reward set before the apostles, based on the condition that they meet the terms of discipleship that would make them joint-heirs with himself. Thus, it should be understood that this reward would be given only if they proved themselves faithful.
Jesus further answered: "Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:29, RLIV) Here Jesus speaks beyond his twelve apostles as says includes "everone" who has foresaken family for his name's sake. Luke records Jesus statement as: "And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you , There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world [age] to come life everlasting." (Luke 18:29,30) This makes it clear that Jesus was saying that there is a reward in this present age, and even further reward in the age to come. Those who foresake family for Christ in this age do indeed receive many brothers and sisters in Christ, indeed, so many that, in most cases they are more than a hundred times our own small family relationships, thus the expression a hundred times more as recorded in Matthew is not setting a limit, but is being used as a synonym of "manifold".
All who have left houses, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, etc., for Christ's sake, will receive everlasting life in the age to come. This does not necessarily mean that they will sit on throne with Jesus, for not all will have met the requirements of overcoming in this age so that they receive that high reward of joint-heirship with Christ. This does not mean that they recive no reward at all; for they, as being sons of God, still have an inheritance, although they lose out in attaining the highest reward of joint-heirship. -- Romans 8:16,17.
Regardless of what reward one receives in the age to come, it is still much higher and greater than any "reward" that Satan can offer, or that this world can offer. With the hope in view, those who belong to Christ are thus encouraged to joyfully endure the hardships of this present life, realizing all this present world has to offer is as nothing in comparison to that which is to come. -- Romans 8:18; Philippians 3:7-14.
