Matthew 19
December 19, 2022
“Peter answered him, ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.’” (v27-29)
Jesus’ disciples want to know if His coming Kingdom is going to be worth all that they’ve given up and sacrificed. And what does Jesus say? “It might not be worth it. But follow me anyway, because it’s the right thing to do. Also, eat your lima beans!” No, Jesus did not say that. What Jesus said is: “At the renewal of all things…you will receive a hundred times as much” (v28-29). For investor types, that’s a 10,000% interest rate. Of course, Jesus isn’t giving us an actual interest rate on our investment in the Kingdom. His point is that there’s no earthly investment that can compete with the kind of heavenly return we’ll get on what we invest in His Kingdom. It’s like Jesus is giving us an insider trading tip: a Kingdom is coming that is so glorious and full of treasures and pleasures, that it’s worth leveraging all we have to buy up more and more shares – not only for the sake of others coming to know Him, but for our own eternal enjoyment!
Lord Jesus, I praise You for Your promise of “the renewal of all things” (v28). To think about every aspect of life that is presently under the curse being reversed and renewed is glorious! You make it clear that the cost of following You (and the sacrifices involved) will be worth it - “a hundred times” over (v29). Grow my trust, hope and anticipation of this great promise, especially when all that I can see and feel is the pain and suffering of this fallen world. Open up the spiritual eyes of my heart to catch a glimpse of this “renewal of all things” that You are preparing.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
