Peter and Future Compensation (Matthew 19:23-30)

This sermon was preached on 10/4/11

The failure of the rich man to give up his possessions in order to follow Jesus led to a discussion of how difficult it was for a wealthy person to become one of his disciples. From Peter’s question to Jesus regarding compensation for following him, we can deduce that the disciples were puzzled as to why Jesus should have made things so difficult for the rich ruler. Most groups in society would have been delighted to have such a benefactor! Yet it is clear that Jesus observed that the young ruler was in love with his riches and did not fully understand the mission of Jesus and his message about eternal life. In order to expose his wrong attitude, Jesus asked the ruler to follow him in a literal sense just as Peter and the others of the twelve had done and given up all their possessions. (Jesus did not then and does not now ask every wealthy believer to make this type of sacrifice.) The discussion eventually led to what recompense would be given to the disciples for leaving their possessions and following Jesus. In his answer, Jesus first mentions what the recompense would be for the twelve disciples (v. 28), then he points out what would be given to all his disciples, and finally points out that membership of his kingdom tends to overthrow normal expectations.

Peter here is giving us a good example by asking Jesus a question. This is not the first time Peter has done this; for example, previously he asked Jesus concerning the number of times he should forgive an offending brother. While we cannot speak face to face with Jesus and ask a question in the way that Peter did, we can ask questions about what is said in the Bible. We can ask those who have some Bible knowledge, but a better way is to ask God to teach you his truths from his Word. The best position for a Bible scholar is on his knees, asking the heavenly Teacher to instruct him from the Textbook that he authored.

It is worth noting that Jesus does not rebuke Peter for this question? On the occasions when he said inappropriate comments, Jesus corrected him. So we can deduce that this question by Peter was entirely appropriate, which means that it is legitimate for Christians to express interest in what following Jesus will result for them. Perhaps his curiosity had been aroused by Jesus’ words to the rich ruler that, if he followed Jesus, he would have treasure in heaven.

1. The particular recompense for Peter and the twelve

In verse 28, Jesus mentions the place and the time when they will get this divine compensation. The place is ‘the new world’ and the time is ‘when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne’. Jesus uses a word translated as ‘the new world’ or ‘the regeneration’ or ‘the renewal of all things’ which indicates that there is going to be a re-creation. We can identify this new world by discovering when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory. So we will try and find out from the Bible.

Where does the idea of the Son of Man ruling come from? The answer is Daniel 7:13-14: ‘I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.’ The reign of the Son of Man began during the time when the fourth empire mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy, which is generally regarded as the Roman Empire, held sway. Jesus ascended to God’s throne during that period. It was before his ascension that Jesus made this promise to Peter, which means the fulfilment could be in the short-term, or in the medium term, or in the long-term, as far as the reign of Jesus was concerned. So the prediction given to Peter could refer to his reign today as he sits at God’s right hand or it could refer to the various ways in which he will function as a King when he returns to the earth.

The prediction states that Peter and his fellow apostles would be identified with Jesus and have delegated authority over the twelve tribes of Israel. Was there a period when this could be said of the apostles? I would suggest that the several years described in the early chapters of Acts when the early church was functioning in Jerusalem and Judea was such a period. Peter and his fellow apostles had delegated authority from Jesus concerning the spiritual developments and changes that he imposed on his kingdom. For example, Peter arrange for Matthias to replace Judas, he took a prominent role on the Day of Pentecost and detailed how penitent sinners could enter the kingdom of Jesus, and he investigated developments in Samaria and among believing proselytes such as Cornelius. Peter and other apostles were ruling or judging what was happening to the twelve tribes of Israel. So personally I think Jesus was referring to the early days of the New Testament church in Jerusalem and elsewhere when he answered Peter’s question. Of course, the authority of the apostles extended further and embraces the Gentile church as well.

Others think it refers to the Day of Judgement because Jesus says that the particular function of the disciples will be to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. That august occasion is linked by Matthew to the title ‘Son of Man’ in Matthew 25:31-33 and following: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.’ On the Day of Judgement, Paul says that all believers will be involved in judging the world: ‘Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? (1 Cor. 6:2). It has not been revealed what this involvement will be; so some argue that Jesus’ words are to be fulfilled literally and that the apostles will judge their fellow countrymen. But I think they are misinterpreting what Jesus meant.

2. The general recompense for all his disciples

In verse 29, Jesus informs the apostles regarding what would happen to all his disciples. The first point to note is that his words make clear that the basic feature of true discipleship is that it places Jesus first. He comes before human relationships and earthly possessions. Many have refused to follow Jesus because it meant giving up a particular relationship, and others, like the rich man, have refused to follow Jesus because they would lose their position and their means of wealth. Putting Jesus first means obeying his commands and putting his requirements above all other pressures that are upon us.

A second point to note is that true discipleship is freely chosen. Many think that the sense of divine compulsion that comes on a person when they hear the gospel is a sense of overpowering demand that curtails a person’s freedom. But it is not like that. The contents of the gospel inform a person’s mind, inflame his emotions, and invigorate his will, and he gladly and freely decides to follow Jesus. He is not coerced against his will into Christ’s service. The church’s method is not like the situation in the past when people were called up to national service and had to go, whether they wanted to or not. Instead they respond willingly and cheerfully, and submissively, to the Saviour’s demands.

Jesus’ words also indicate that following Jesus can be costly. In some countries and ethnic groups, following Jesus can result in the breaking of family ties and the loss of family inheritance. This is what happens to many who become Christians in Jewish or Islamic families. But there is a cost to everyone who becomes a believer. They may need to change their employment or they may lose their pre-conversion friends. There may be mockery and derision, and that is not easy to bear. In order to help them count the cost, Jesus gives them the promise of future rewards.

His words also reveal that even in this life there are benefits to following Christ. They discover that believing in Jesus has resulted in membership of a worldwide family, of thousands of brothers and sisters, among whom are many experienced Christians who function as spiritual fathers and mothers. Also they discover that they share in all the possessions that these people may have. I recall the surprise some of my former work colleagues had when they found out that I could travel to many places and be greeted there by close friends who were delighted that I would stay with them. It is certainly the case that I have a lot more friends as a Christian than I had before I was converted, and there are a lot more homes to which I can go, all over the world, that I could before I was a believer in Jesus.

Hudson Taylor once said that he had found it impossible to make a sacrifice for Jesus. By this he meant that whenever he did something for Jesus which may have cost him time and resources, he discovered that Jesus so richly repaid it that what had been a sacrifice turned out to be a route of receiving blessing.

Further Jesus’ words point to the fact that there is more to life than family ties or inheritance. It is wonderful to see a close family, but it is sad to see a close family with no interest in Jesus. It is good to be interested in family possessions, but it is sad to have such an interest and not be concerned about the heavenly Father’s inheritance. If God has given you the blessing of a close family and the likelihood of a family inheritance, the best and most appropriate thing for you to do is follow his Son, bring his spiritual blessing into your family, and use your possessions for the advancement of his kingdom.

These words of Jesus remind us that he is in control of providence. There is no other leader who can categorically promise to his followers that what they lose on his behalf will be restored to them one hundredfold. Only a person who has total control of all events can make this promise. Jesus is able to give us good in this world out of all the things that happen to us.

Again, these words of Jesus remind us that he is no man’s debtor and that he has lovingly taken note of all that it has cost each of his disciples to follow him. He will personally ensure that they will receive the appropriate reward again and again throughout life.

In addition to all these temporal benefits, they will receive numerous spiritual benefits. As Matthew Henry put it, ‘Their graces shall increase, their comforts abound, they shall have tokens of God’s love, more free communion with him, more full communications from him, clearer foresights, and sweeter foretastes, of the glory to be revealed; and then they may truly say, they have received a hundred times more comfort in God and Christ than they could have had in wife, or children.’

All these temporal and spiritual blessings occur in this world. But Jesus also reminds Peter that in the world to come they will receive eternal life. Eternal life is more than endless existence. Instead it refers to the quality and the abundance of the life that will be enjoyed in the eternal state. Everything beautiful in this world will have its fulfilment in the next. Our desires for beauty and joy and peace will be expanded continually and satisfied endlessly. There will be increase in understanding and in capability. Above all, there will be the ongoing and developing interaction with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the presence of all the redeemed and the holy angels in the perfect world that will be brought into existence.

3. Jesus overturns conventional wisdom

When Jesus says, ‘But many who are first will be last, and the last first,’ he is referring to the rich ruler. He had his status in this life, but in the next he would have nothing. On the other hand, Peter had given up his status in this life, but in the next he would receive great promotion. The rich young ruler was one of the bench at that time; on the Day of Judgement he would be before the ultimate Bench. Jesus is saying to his apostles, ‘It is better to be on the Bench on the Day of Judgement that on an earthly bench today.’ And so with all merely earthly honours.

That was an important lesson that Peter learned. He would come across many important earthly people during his life and may have been tempted to regret his level of discipleship when he saw their possessions. The prospect of heavenly status and the enjoyment of earthly provision would give him a proper perspective. He learned that no-one who follows Jesus gets a bad deal!