Jesus Speaks With a Kneeling Man About Richesby Jeff
19:30Matthew 19:30
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Many who seem first will be last and those who seem last will be first, for worldly rank and advantage do not decide standing in God's kingdom. It closes Christ's answer to Peter about what those who have forsaken houses, family and lands to follow Him will receive, after the promise that His followers will sit on thrones in the regeneration and that all such sacrifice will receive a hundredfold with everlasting life. It was spoken after the rich young ruler went away sorrowful rather than sell and give to the poor, and after the warning that riches make entrance hard though God makes possible what is impossible with men. It was given with tenderness to encourage every sacrifice for Him, and even the disciples' few boats and nets were accepted as all they had, as dear to them as riches to the wealthy. God gives honor to lowly, self-denying disciples who prefer others and serve their brethren in love without seeking place, while those who strive for first place through pride, self-pleasing and grasping for recognition show themselves unfit and become last unless they humble themselves and repent. Those first called who cling to riches and refuse to use them to bless the needy and advance His work will be passed by and lose everlasting life, while the last become first when love of riches is crowded out by love of Jesus and they hold all as the Lord's goods and serve faithfully as stewards.
Setting and Promise
The saying closes the answer to Peter's question about what those who have forsaken all and followed Him will receive. It comes after the promise that in the regeneration, when the Son of man sits on the throne of His glory, those who followed Him will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. It comes after the promise that everyone who has forsaken houses, brethren, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands for His name's sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit everlasting life.
It follows the rich young ruler going away sorrowful when told to sell what he had, give to the poor, and follow for treasure in heaven. It follows the warning that a rich man will hardly enter the kingdom of heaven, and the teaching that what is impossible with men is possible with God. That salvation was made possible because Christ gave His life to the work of saving souls so that human beings can return to loyalty and stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel.
It was spoken with tenderness and compassion as a closing word of promise and commendation to encourage the disciples to make every sacrifice to follow Him, not to make them self-sufficient. Though their all was only a few fishing boats and nets, their sacrifice was accepted like the widow's mite because it was all they had and was as dear to them as riches are to the wealthy.
It stands where the belief that God's favor and the reward of the righteous must be earned by works is corrected. The disciples themselves were not wholly free from a grasping, mercenary spirit. The parable of the laborers that follows teaches the principles of God's free grace.
Reversal in God's Kingdom
In the kingdom of God worldly rank, privilege and apparent advantage do not determine standing, for many who seem or appear first will be last and those who seem or appear last will be first. The saying closes the promise that those who give up possessions and family ties for His name will receive a hundredfold and inherit everlasting life, and it belongs to the teaching about eternal life that reverses human expectations.
God gives distinction and honor in Christ's spiritual kingdom to lowly, self-denying, self-sacrificing disciples who give others preference and are most active in serving their brethren. He does this because of their compassion and love, even when they do not seek honor or recognize their own worth. Greatness there belongs to those who serve their brethren and help and bless others, not to those who seek outward distinction, glory, worldly honor and exaltation. Those who seek distinction and glory and exalt themselves may therefore be last, while self-denying people who put others first may be first and be placed in positions of honor.
Those who put themselves first and strive for first place show unfitness for responsibility and obstruct growth and service. Wanting recognition for talents and resenting lack of advancement reveals that unfitness, since true advancement comes through faithfulness in small duties, humility, meekness and integrity, not by pulling others down or using dishonest means to gain a desired position. Self-pleasing, pride and self-confidence keep a person from seeing personal faults, so that without meekness, humility and cleansing there can be no improvement or success in God's favor. Those now first but untrue to God's cause will become last unless they humble themselves, repent and are born again, for otherwise they continue cherishing the wrong spirit and fail to recognize mercy.
Those first called who receive the truth but cling to riches will be passed by and become last. They refuse to distribute their substance to bless the needy and advance God's work, love riches better than God and truth, do not live the truth, and have no faith to venture and trust God, and so they lose treasure in heaven and everlasting life. God passes by the wealthy who will not fulfill His purpose and raises up others to fill their places, who gladly distribute to meet the necessities of His cause, and in that faithful sacrifice and willing service they become first. The last become first when they break away from riches and have the love of riches crowded out as truth is set home to the heart by the Spirit, so that love of Jesus replaces love of riches. Then affection is transferred to God, all possessions are held as the Lord's goods, God is loved with all heart, soul and mind and neighbor as self, and possessions are faithfully used as a steward to bless the needy and advance God's work. Those who forsake houses, family or lands for Christ's name in this way receive a hundredfold in this life and inherit everlasting life.
Many who seem first will be last and those who seem last will be first, for worldly rank and advantage do not decide standing in God's kingdom. It closes Christ's answer to Peter about what those who have forsaken houses, family and lands to follow Him will receive, after the promise that His followers will sit on thrones in the regeneration and that all such sacrifice will receive a hundredfold with everlasting life. It was spoken after the rich young ruler went away sorrowful rather than sell and give to the poor, and after the warning that riches make entrance hard though God makes possible what is impossible with men. It was given with tenderness to encourage every sacrifice for Him, and even the disciples' few boats and nets were accepted as all they had, as dear to them as riches to the wealthy. God gives honor to lowly, self-denying disciples who prefer others and serve their brethren in love without seeking place, while those who strive for first place through pride, self-pleasing and grasping for recognition show themselves unfit and become last unless they humble themselves and repent. Those first called who cling to riches and refuse to use them to bless the needy and advance His work will be passed by and lose everlasting life, while the last become first when love of riches is crowded out by love of Jesus and they hold all as the Lord's goods and serve faithfully as stewards.
Setting and Promise
The saying closes the answer to Peter's question about what those who have forsaken all and followed Him will receive. It comes after the promise that in the regeneration, when the Son of man sits on the throne of His glory, those who followed Him will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. It comes after the promise that everyone who has forsaken houses, brethren, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands for His name's sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit everlasting life.
It follows the rich young ruler going away sorrowful when told to sell what he had, give to the poor, and follow for treasure in heaven. It follows the warning that a rich man will hardly enter the kingdom of heaven, and the teaching that what is impossible with men is possible with God. That salvation was made possible because Christ gave His life to the work of saving souls so that human beings can return to loyalty and stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel.
It was spoken with tenderness and compassion as a closing word of promise and commendation to encourage the disciples to make every sacrifice to follow Him, not to make them self-sufficient. Though their all was only a few fishing boats and nets, their sacrifice was accepted like the widow's mite because it was all they had and was as dear to them as riches are to the wealthy.
It stands where the belief that God's favor and the reward of the righteous must be earned by works is corrected. The disciples themselves were not wholly free from a grasping, mercenary spirit. The parable of the laborers that follows teaches the principles of God's free grace.
Reversal in God's Kingdom
In the kingdom of God worldly rank, privilege and apparent advantage do not determine standing, for many who seem or appear first will be last and those who seem or appear last will be first. The saying closes the promise that those who give up possessions and family ties for His name will receive a hundredfold and inherit everlasting life, and it belongs to the teaching about eternal life that reverses human expectations.
God gives distinction and honor in Christ's spiritual kingdom to lowly, self-denying, self-sacrificing disciples who give others preference and are most active in serving their brethren. He does this because of their compassion and love, even when they do not seek honor or recognize their own worth. Greatness there belongs to those who serve their brethren and help and bless others, not to those who seek outward distinction, glory, worldly honor and exaltation. Those who seek distinction and glory and exalt themselves may therefore be last, while self-denying people who put others first may be first and be placed in positions of honor.
Those who put themselves first and strive for first place show unfitness for responsibility and obstruct growth and service. Wanting recognition for talents and resenting lack of advancement reveals that unfitness, since true advancement comes through faithfulness in small duties, humility, meekness and integrity, not by pulling others down or using dishonest means to gain a desired position. Self-pleasing, pride and self-confidence keep a person from seeing personal faults, so that without meekness, humility and cleansing there can be no improvement or success in God's favor. Those now first but untrue to God's cause will become last unless they humble themselves, repent and are born again, for otherwise they continue cherishing the wrong spirit and fail to recognize mercy.
Those first called who receive the truth but cling to riches will be passed by and become last. They refuse to distribute their substance to bless the needy and advance God's work, love riches better than God and truth, do not live the truth, and have no faith to venture and trust God, and so they lose treasure in heaven and everlasting life. God passes by the wealthy who will not fulfill His purpose and raises up others to fill their places, who gladly distribute to meet the necessities of His cause, and in that faithful sacrifice and willing service they become first. The last become first when they break away from riches and have the love of riches crowded out as truth is set home to the heart by the Spirit, so that love of Jesus replaces love of riches. Then affection is transferred to God, all possessions are held as the Lord's goods, God is loved with all heart, soul and mind and neighbor as self, and possessions are faithfully used as a steward to bless the needy and advance God's work. Those who forsake houses, family or lands for Christ's name in this way receive a hundredfold in this life and inherit everlasting life.