Matthew 19:27-30
‘Then Peter answered and said to Him: “Behold, we have forsaken all and followed You!”… Then Jesus said…: “You who have followed Me in the regeneration — when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of His glory, you too shall sit on twelve thrones…. And everyone who has forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or land, for My name’s sake — shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life!” Matthew 19:27-29.
Calvin comments: “Peter…compares himself and the other disciples to the rich man whom the world had turned aside from Christ…. They had led a poor…life…. He properly inquires if it be to no purpose that they have left all their property, and devoted themselves to Christ….
“But what were those all things?… Being mean and very poor men, they scarcely had a home to leave…. Though their wealth was not magnificent, they subsisted at home by their manual labours not less cheerfully than the richest man…. Certainly, if some reward had not been reserved for the disciples — it would have been foolish in them to have changed their course of life…. Let us learn…to…elevate our minds to the hope of the heavenly life!…
“Christ warned…that the glory of His Kingdom…was about to be revealed…. ‘I…will at length ascend to My throne…. Endure, then, for a little!'” The disciples partake of the same glory. ‘You too shall sit on twelve thrones!’…. He compares them to assessors or…judges — who occupy the highest seats in the royal council…. Christ holds their wishes in suspense, till the latest revelation of His Kingdom…. There is no doubt, that Christ here speaks of the Last Day….
“‘Regeneration’ would be nothing else than the renovation which shall follow our restoration…. Life shall swallow up what is mortal…, when our mean body..be transformed into the heavenly glory of Christ…. ‘Regeneration’…(also) refers to the first coming of Christ…. Then the world began to be renewed, and arose out of the darkness of death into the light of life…. The renovation of the Church…had raised an expectation of wonderful happiness, as soon as the Messiah would appear….
“‘Whoever…forsakes (houses or brethren…or wife or children or land, for My name’s sake — shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life)!”… Those who shall willingly ‘lose all’ for the sake of Christ — will be more happy even in this life than if they had retained the full possession of them…. He promises about recompensing them ‘a hundredfold’…. If any man estimate aright the immediate grace of God by which He relieves the sorrows of His people — he will acknowledge that it is justly preferred to all the riches of the world…. God gladdens His people!… Their condition is more desirable, than the luxuries of kings!”
Calvin also says in his Institutes III:25:10: “Our Saviour…promised that they ‘shall receive a hundredfold — and shall inherit everlasting life!’ (Matthew 19:28)…. Christ…begins the glory of His Body (the Church) in this world and gradually increases it…. He will complete it, in Heaven!”
Forsake everything, then — to inherit Heaven and its riches! You too!
