Matthew 19:27-30: the first will be last

 "But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.”  Jesus in Matthew 19:30

“I believe that is going to be one of the most revealing things when we come into the presence of God to find out that all of these that are mentioned as Christian leaders you won’t even hear from them in that day; the ones you will hear of are unknown saints of God.”     (J. Vernon McGee’s audio commentary on this passage)

“Farewell…I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed.  Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship with you…” (Thorin Oakenshield to Bilbo Baggins in the book The Hobbit)

               

Peter is hearing what he thinks are conflicting messages.  On one hand, Peter hears Jesus tell the rich young ruler, “go and sell your possessions and give to the poor… and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21).   Then Peter hears Jesus say, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).   Peter is now confused and blurts out likely what the other disciples are thinking, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” (v.27).

Jesus must have shocked the disciples as He answers Peter’s question by talking about the end times. The first thing that Jesus mentions is the regeneration (v.28).  Our current world is broken.  There is death, sin, corruption and evil.  And mosquitos. But the Lord will regenerate creation.   There will be a new heaven, a new earth and even a new Jerusalem (see Revelation 21:1-22:5).  It will be glorious beyond human comprehension.  Death will be no more and He will wipe every tear from our eyes. 

The Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne (v. 28; Matthew 25:31) and the twelve will also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (v. 28).  Revelation 4 gives us a detailed picture of the throne room of God.  There are 24 thrones for 24 elders that surround the one glorious throne of God (Revelation 4:4).   Most commentators agree the twelve disciples will occupy half of those thrones as a fulfillment of the promise here in Matthew 19:28.  (But there are different opinions about who will sit on the other 12 thrones as well as the throne never taken by Judas; the Bible is silent as to who are the 24 elders of Revelation 4.)

Jesus not only promises reward for His disciples in the regeneration but also in this current life.  And He speaks of reward for everyone who has left houses or brothers, or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake (v.29).   I believe in one sense Jesus was speaking directly to Peter, his brother Andrew and the two Zebedee brothers, James and John; all of whom are counted among the twelve disciples.   We are told in Matthew 4:18-22 that these four left their nets and even the family business (Matthew 4:21-22).  As Peter said, they left everything to follow Him.  The same can be said for Matthew (see Luke 5:27-28). 

However, in another sense Jesus was speaking to *everyone* who has left houses and family to follow Him.  When we contemplated Christ’s call to move from America to Eastern Europe as missionaries, it was a difficult decision.  We did not want to leave behind our country, our home, family and friends.   Yet it was this very promise in Matthew 19:29 that made our decision easier. Not easy, but easier, knowing there will be a reward “at this time” and “in the age to come,” (Luke’s version of this story in Luke 18:30).   

This promise of reward from Jesus’ is not just for disciples or missionaries but for everyone who has followed Him.  In many parts of the world, believers are often cut off from family, friends, education and jobs because of their faith (Matthew 10:34-36).   I received an email recently asking for prayer for a young Chinese Christian student who is being cut off relationally and financially by his own atheistic father.  Similar circumstances happen daily around the world.  Christ has not forgotten these and He will reward them. 

The faithful, not necessarily the famous, will be rewarded crowns (1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4; James 1:12).  And Revelation 4:10 says that the 24 elders seated on their thrones will then cast their crowns before His throne.   And those of us who are part of the great multitude (Revelation 5:13) will follow their example, I believe, and will cast our crowns before the throne of the Lamb.  For we will consider the treasure of worshipping Christ to be greater than anything this world or our own faithfulness can generate. 

Will you be there with the multitude casting your crown?  Or will you leave your crown on this side of the grave?   The rich young ruler had wealth, looks and power.  If alive today he may be on magazine covers or considered as a judge on the next season of “Idol.” But he wanted Christ on his own terms, not on Christ’s terms.  Christ would not compromise and the man walked away rejected.   Likewise the famous by God’s standards are probably unknown to most men.  They labor and love faithfully without worldly applause.  But they will be rewarded in heaven.  For Jesus said, “But many who are first will be last and the last, first” (v.30).