Devo: Matthew 19:23-30

This is a continuation of the story of the rich young ruler in the previous verses. Jesus said that it is hard for a rich man to enter heaven. The disciples were amazed and asked Jesus who then can be saved. They asked that question because they thought that  riches were a sign of God’s blessing.

Just because someone possesses great wealth doesn’t mean that they are blessed by the Lord. The rich young ruler in the previous story had great wealth but he did not have a personal relationship with God. He may had had a good relationship with people (Matthew 19:20) but not with God.

God does not mean that He is against riches. He made king Solomon the richest man on earth that no one today has surpassed. King Solomon did not ask for it but God gave it to him because he was pleased with him. God made Job wealthy as well. Even when he lost everything, God restored everything and even gave him double (Job 42:10).

It is not money that is evil. It is the LOVE of money that is evil. The rich young ruler in the previous story went away when Jesus told him to sell all of his possessions, give them all to the poor, and follow Jesus. He went away sorrowful because he had great wealth and he couldn’t let it go. He had fallen in love with this world. He did not obey Jesus because his wealth was more important to him than Jesus. He loved his wealth more than God.

Rich people can be saved if they surrender their lives to God and prioritize God over their riches.

Peter then told God that they left everything for the Lord, and bluntly asked Him what their reward would be from following Jesus (v. 27).

This was Jesus’ response:

“So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, 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 lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” – Matthew 19:28-29

Jesus assured the disciples that they will receive a reward in heaven. Jesus also said that they have a special role on the final judgment. Just like the disciples, everyone who sacrificed for God will receive a reward. God knows the hardships we endure for following Him and He will honor that. Aside from the eternal life in heaven, we will receive a hundredfold from the Lord.

In the commentary, enduringword.com, it says,

“Hundredfold is obviously not literal in a material sense; otherwise, Jesus promises a hundred mothers and a hundred wives. Jesus will do more than make up what we have given up for His sake, but the return may be spiritual instead of material. Hundredfold certainly is literally true in the spiritual sense.”

I like that. I like the spiritual reward of joy, peace, contentment, hope, and everything that satisfies the soul.

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” – Matthew 19:30

We should always humble ourselves before God because truly, we are nothing without Him. I like what Barclay and Spurgeon said regarding this verse (which I read from enduringword.com).

“Jesus lays it down that there will be surprises in the final assessment… it may be that those who were humble on earth will be great in heaven, and that those who were great in this world will be humbled in the world to come.” – Barclay

“You remember the old Romish legend, which contains a great truth. There was a brother who preached very mightily, and who had won many souls to Christ, and it was revealed to him one night, in a dream, that in heaven he would have no reward for all that he had done. He asked to whom the reward would go; and an angel told him that it would go to an old man who used to sit on the pulpit stairs, and pray for him. Well, it may be so, though it is more likely that both would share their Master’s praise. We shall not be rewarded, however, simply according to our apparent success.” – Spurgeon