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Luke 18:28–30
“[Jesus] said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life’” (vv. 29–30).
Many first-century Jews believed that the wealthy were on a fast track to salvation, for popular opinion held that riches were almost invariably a sign of God’s favor. Thus, they would have been troubled to hear from our Lord that it is very difficult for rich people to enter the kingdom of God. The rich young ruler exemplified this when he refused Christ’s demand that he give up his riches and follow the Savior (Luke 18:18–25). Jesus said that the salvation of the wealthy is difficult, however, not that it is impossible. Although it is impossible for sinners of their own accord to set aside their idols to follow the one true God, what is impossible with man is possible with our Creator (vv. 26–27). He can grant the willingness to believe, resurrecting dead souls so that they abandon their idols to trust in Christ alone (see Eph. 2:1–10).
God’s ability to do what is impossible through human effort—namely, salvation—is demonstrated in the commitment of the twelve disciples to follow Jesus. As Peter notes in today’s passage, they did not follow the path of the rich young ruler but left their homes to follow Christ (Luke 18:28). Likely Peter and the other disciples did not have as many worldly goods as the rich young ruler, though it is also incorrect that they all lived in poverty before Jesus called them to follow Him. At least some of them had probably made a good living for themselves. Peter and the sons of Zebedee, James and John, seemed to have had a prosperous fishing business, and Levi was a tax collector who was able to hold a great feast at his house (5:1–11, 27–32). They had to leave their income behind to accompany Jesus on His itinerant teaching ministry, a feat that was impossible for them in their own strength. But God gave them the grace to serve the Messiah.
The text does not explain why Peter said that they had left their homes to follow Jesus. Perhaps he wanted assurance that they had made the correct choice. Regardless, Jesus gave such assurance by telling the disciple that those who leave things behind for the sake of God’s kingdom will receive much more than they lost in this age, and the greatest riches of all in the age to come—eternal life (Luke 18:29–30).
Note that the blessings promised are both material and spiritual, as parallel accounts make clear (Mark 10:29–31). God, of course, is sovereign in how He blesses His people, so we cannot assume exactly how and when we will receive blessings for following Jesus. Still, He will certainly bless His servants.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Dr. R.C. Sproul comments, “Jesus promises that those who follow Him will be blessed in ways they cannot imagine, ways that will make our worldly wealth seem paltry by comparison.” Ultimately, we are giving up nothing to follow Jesus. In the short term, we may have to do without some things, but it will all be returned to us and much more besides. Serving Jesus can lead only to final gain for us.
for further study
- Job 42:12
- Psalms 34:10; 84:11
- Haggai 2:19
- Ephesians 1:3–6
the bible in a year
- Proverbs 19–20
- 2 Corinthians 3