5. REWARD OF SELF-DENIAL Mark 10:28-31 (Matthew 19:27-30; Luke 18:28-30) 28 Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.--Matthew (Matthew 19:27) adds that Peter asked, "What then shall we have?" This was an honest and fair question and something any one would wish to know under the circumstances. His question referred to the promise of Jesus, "Thou shalt have treasure in heaven." He desired to know what should be their portion since making the sacrifices they had, and whether they could claim the promise to themselves. 29 Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that bath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel's sake,--From obedience to the requirements of the gospel, and love for the service of the gospel. Christ, his truth, and his cause are one. In the days of Jesus those who followed him were obliged generally to forsake houses and home, and to attend him. In our day it is not often required that we should literally leave them, except when the life is devoted to him among the heathen, but it is always required that we love them less than we do him; that we give up that which is inconsistent with devotion to the Lord, and be ready to give up all if devotion to him demands it. 30 but he shall receive a hundredfold---"A hundredfold" means a hundred times as much. He will give what will be worth a hundred times as much in the peace, joy, and rewards of the blessings in Christ. No man's temporal interest is injured by the love of God. now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands,--Here the spiritual relationship is intended. (Romans 16:13; 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 2 Corinthians 6:13; Galatians 4:19.) The promised return is realized usually in the enjoyments of the Christian life, which are equivalent for a hundredfold of all that is lost in serving Christ. with persecutions;--These are not promised as a part of the reward; but amidst their trials and persecutions, they should find comfort and peace. A godly life is in opposition to ungodliness--they are at war with each other. The ungodly will assuredly persecute the godly, as they did our Lord. Persecution is one means used by Satan to draw Christians away from Christ, and permitted by God to test their loyalty to him. and in the world to come eternal life.--Eternal life is in heaven. Hence, we must wait until we reach heaven to come in possession of it. For this reason we should not become weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not. 31 But many that are first shall be last and the last first.--They will exchange positions. These changes are brought about by rejecting and accepting the gospel. Many who are first in prospect of everlasting life shall be last, and many who are last in this respect shall be first. The rich young ruler (verses 16-20) had been among the first, but now he is among the last. Judas, who was then among the first, was later among the last, and Matthias, who was among the last, being then only an obscure disciple (Acts 2:21-23), took his place. The Jews looked upon themselves as first, and nearest to the kingdom of heaven, but for their infidelity they lost out as a nation. And the Gentiles, who were looked upon by them as dogs, and farthest from heaven, shall be first, on account of their conversion and faith in Christ. The Jews were offered the gospel first and rejected it--this put the first last the Gentiles were offered it last, they accepted it--this put the last first. Another view is that many are first in their own esteem, and in the opinion of others, and forward in their claims in religion, yet at the day of judgment they will be last and least in God's estimation and account. And many that are little in their own, and less in the esteem of others, who had a less name and vogue in the world, shall he first and highest in God's favor. No doubt the day of judgment will frustrate a great many persons' expectations, both as touching others, and concerning themselves. Many will miss heaven, and be lost, who looked upon themselves to be first. And many will find others in heaven, whom they least expected there. It seems clear that the meaning of the first sentence, "many that are first shall be last," is many with splendid opportunities, failing to improve them, shall be last; and the second, "the last first," are those with poor or meager advantages, which, by improving them, shall have a great reward.