Title: The Disciples' Reward / Matthew 19:27-30
Content: The reward the disciples will receive
Matthew 19:27-30
Judges of the twelve tribes who sit on twelve thrones
(Mt 19:27) Then Peter answered and said, Behold, we have left everything and followed you; and what then shall we gain? And you who follow me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel when he sits on his throne of glory.
The meaning of the title 'the judge of the twelve tribes' means that he will become a judge or ruler not only of the nation of Israel, but of all mankind. It is a reward given to those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ, the true saints. Let's see what kind of authority the judges are.
Judge in God's Authority
No matter how powerful the world's powers are, they are relative and finite. The world's authority cannot judge and rule everything in the world, and that authority is also destroyed when time and circumstances change. However, by the side of the 'Eternal Throne of God,' the saints can judge and rule all things in the world forever, thanks to God's absolute and eternal authority. The saints were given authority to judge even the angels.
(1 Corinthians 6:3) Do you not know that we will judge angels?
He also has authority to judge unbelievers in the truth of the gospel (John 20:23) If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; and if you leave the sins of any, they remain. There is also. The dominion of the saints is thus absolute and eternal.
full judgment in the future
But such royal judgment is not in this life, but in the future fully. The Lord also said, 'When the world is renewed and the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory (verse 28). When Christ returns and makes heaven and earth new, the twelve throne thrones promised to the saints will be fully conferred.
Like Paul's confession, 'We are now like the filth of the world and the dross of all things' (1 Corinthians 4:13), in this world we are rather subjected to more suffering, humiliation, and persecution. God's authority is not achieved through false powers, tricks, lies, and compulsion like in the world, but through righteousness, peace, love, and truth.
Only God can decide
Matthew 20:23 says that only God decides which saint will sit on the throne. Just as salvation is accomplished by God's sovereign grace, we can see that the rewards of saints also belong to God's sovereignty and wisdom.
inherit eternal life
(Matthew 19:29) And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.
The Lord then promised that the saints would inherit eternal life in return for following Christ. Let us consider the meaning of the reward of eternal life.
It is the ultimate goal of the life of the saints.
Eternal life is a life of eternal fellowship with God the Eternal. What greater value and purpose of life is there for believers who believe in God other than eternal fellowship with God? So that's the biggest reward.
Therefore, Christ also said to his disciples, 'Rejoice that your names are written in heaven' (Matthew 10:20) above any other gift, and the Apostle Paul said that the last fruit of the religious life is eternal life (Romans 6:22). They also say that they run with the reward of eternal life. (Philippians 3:14)
(Philippians 3:14) I am running toward the goal for the reward of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
'Prize eternal life, for this you were called' (1 Timothy 1:16) Therefore, more than any reward given to Christ's disciples, the saints should live the life of eternal life in communion with God as the greatest goal.
Numerous rewards follow incidentally
The Lord did not promise His disciples that eternal life was the only reward. It is said that even the precious things of the world (see v. 29) will be rewarded in this life many times over. Look at how he promised to pay many folds for what he lost in following Christ: his family, his land, and so on. Just as if you gain the sun, you will receive heat and light as an incidental reward, so for the saints who have received eternal life as a reward, worldly happiness will also be rewarded with abundant fruit in the Lord's righteousness, peace, and truth.
Father Damien of Molokai Island became a leper while dedicating himself as a servant of Christ and lost much, but thousands of lepers were blessed to call him 'brother' in Christ. In that sense, He promised to receive true happiness as a reward on this earth.
But eternal life does not come upon the name of a Christian. We must remember that God's just reward is given only to those who have dedicated their lives in faith (Galatians 6:7-8).
(Galatians 6:7) Do not deceive yourself, for God is not despised; whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Galatians 6:8) He who sows for his own flesh will also reap corruption from the flesh, but for the sake of the Spirit. He who sows will reap eternal life from the Holy Spirit.
first and last
(Matthew 19:30) But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
The Lord concluded that the saints would receive the reward of eternal life in return for their faith, not indiscriminately, but those whom God approves that is, the 'first'. So let's take a look at its meaning.
Teaching the privilege of those who have obtained the complete gospel truth
'Blessed are your eyes for seeing and your ears for hearing. ??Many prophets and the righteous have longed to see the things you see, but did not see it??They wanted to hear it, but did not hear it??Matthew 13:17
These verses teach the religious privileges of the disciples who believed later compared to the prophets who believed earlier in the past. The prophets of the Old Testament did not see Christ in person, but only knew the 'Christ to come' despite their great efforts and devotion. (Ref. 1 Peter 1:10-12)
(1 Peter 1:10) Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied the grace that would come to you studied and studied diligently (1 Peter 1:11). (1 Peter 1:12) It was revealed by revelation that this service was not for their own sake, but for you. This was now reported to you by those who preach the gospel by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, and the angels what you want to look at
However, since the disciples knew God's revelation of salvation that was fully fulfilled through Christ, who is the reality of the truth incarnate, they came into contact with the reality of the truth of the gospel before the prophets of the Old Testament who became believers.
What about our saints? Indeed, they have tasted the grace of the gospel truth that has been more fully completed than the disciples, and as the latter, they are receiving more perfect grace than those who came first.
Teaching the Privileges of the Gentiles
The Bible first states that the people of Israel, rather than the Gentiles, had the privilege of gaining eternal life as God's people (see Romans 9:4-7).
However, because they forgot the grace they received earlier and rejected Christ Jesus, the grace of the gospel truth was passed on from the Jewish people to the Gentiles. He said, 'Yes, they are broken by unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be high-minded, but be afraid' (Romans 11:20). We must remember the principle that unbelief and pride will displace anyone in any position from God's favor. The apostle Paul was a late apostle, but he was revered as the greatest apostle. He confessed that he always made a religious effort to get the first prize (see 1 Cor. 9:23-25).
(1 Corinthians 9:23) I do everything for the sake of the gospel, so that I may participate in the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:24) Don't you know that even if all runners on the playground run, only one wins the prize? Run in the same way (1 Corinthians 9:25). Everyone who competes for the victory is temperate in all things, for they want a corruptible crown, but we want the incorruptible.