Matthew 19:27-30 - Many who are first will be last

19:27

Peter then speaks up, as usual, expressing concern about themselves. For the disciples had left homes and jobs in order to follow Jesus. If it is so difficult to enter the kingdom of heaven, where does it leave the disciples? Are they in or are they out? 

19:28-30

Jesus then makes an amazing statement, and one that opens with “Truly, I say to you..” emphasising the veracity of what He is about to say. “The renewal of all things”, this is referring to the end of time when Jesus returns, and this will be a time when He makes all things new. There will be an utter transformation at the end of the age. Then He says the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne. Soon Jesus would be nailed to a cross, utterly humiliated and rejected by humanity, but that would not be the end. Soon would come the resurrection, then much later the return of the King. At that time those who followed Him would sit on thrones judging the tribes of Israel. The disciples had no idea how glorious the future would be, and we too have no idea either. We do need to think more about the age to come. Not as means of escapism, but to be aware of where things are really going, and to give us strength and encouragement to live today. Anyone who has made sacrifices for Christ will receive a hundred times as much. Any sacrifice we make now for Christ is more than worth it, many times over. “But many who are first ...” There will be a complete reversal of the normal order. We need to be heavenly minded.