MATTHEW 19:28-30: ORDER UNDER JESUS’
REIGN
One of the most spoken of subjects
in Christianity is heaven and the new world. What will it be like? We have
glimpses of it in the Bible, but the truth is that nothing can fully explain
how amazing it will be to reign with Christ forever. Jesus spoke of the new
world in Matthew 19:28-30, and in this passage of scripture, there are three
conclusions we can draw about order under Jesus’ reign.
Matthew 19:28-30
English Standard Version (ESV)
28 Jesus
said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,[a] when the
Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also
sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold[b] and will
inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last,
and the last first.
Jesus Is the Ultimate Judge (v. 28)
We
first see that Jesus is the ultimate judge. While it is true that believers who
have followed Christ will also judge with him, he is the ultimate authority.
When verse 28 mentions judging the twelve tribes of Israel, it is referring to
Israel’s rejection of him as the Messiah. We should take comfort, however, in
the fact that Jesus will ultimately judge. It is no human that can do so but
only Christ.
There Is a Reward for Following
Christ (v. 29)
We
can clearly see from verse 29 that there is a reward for following Christ. More
than that, however, the cost of following Christ on earth is great. Jesus
mentions those who have literally left everything behind for his sake. This is
the cost of following him. The reward is so much greater though.
Jesus’ Order Is the Opposite of
Worldly Order (v. 30)
We
lastly see that Jesus’ order is the opposite of worldly order. He says that the
first will be last and the last will be first in his new world. Worldly wisdom
teaches that we are to strive to be first, to be at the top. Jesus’ wisdom, however,
teaches that we are to sacrifice and humble ourselves. If we do this, we will
be first in his order. This is the reverse of worldly order.
Conclusion
Order
under Jesus’ reign will be vastly different from current order in our world.
Let us embrace it and long for the day when he returns to claim his bride.
