Matthew (Written)

Monday, 18 May 2026

But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:30

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

You can read the Matthew 19 translation, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click here to listen) , or at Rumble (Click here to listen).

“Many, also, they will be: first, last, and last, first.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of priorities, noting that those who have left houses, family, etc., for His name’s sake would receive a hundredfold along with eternal life. Having said that, He finishes the chapter, saying, “Many, also, they will be: first, last, and last, first.”

There is a contrast set forth from the previous verse –

²⁹And all, whoever he…
³⁰Many, also, they will be…

The question that needs to be answered is “Who is Jesus referring to?” His words in verse 29 concerned those willing to forsake things now in order to further His kingdom. That was based on the young ruler who went away sorrowful at hearing he was to sell what he had, give it to the poor, and then he would have treasure in heaven.

Because of his departing sorrowfully, Jesus spoke concerning how hard it was to enter the kingdom, using a camel going through the eye of a needle as an example. He then had to explain, after the astonishment of the disciples, that with God, all things are possible. Peter then chimed in and noted they had left everything to follow Jesus.

That is when Jesus noted that the disciples would sit with Him on twelve thrones. He followed that thought up with verse 29. These things are pointing to a truth summed up in this verse, and of which an example will be given to start Chapter 20.

“All” of verse 29 are those who, regardless of their station, give up the things of this life to follow Jesus. “Many” of verse 30 are those who will enter, but who will do so because of various circumstances that have arisen. Based on those circumstances, they will be included, but in a lesser position.

In other words, “last” does not speak of those who are unsaved. That would be to change the categories. Instead, it speaks of those who are within the same category, but for some reason, they are relegated to a lesser position in the process of entering the kingdom.

As noted, that will be explained in the parable of Chapter 20. Jesus has another parable in Luke 13 where He will speak of the last and first again. The context will be different, but it is in line with such teachings that help form our understanding of what God is doing in redemptive history.

Life application: Jesus’ use of the last and the first is given to explain how God views our actions toward and interactions with Him. In determining what God approves of, we can then direct our lives toward those things if we are wise and dedicated servants.

In Romans 9-11, Paul speaks of those who strive to earn God’s favor through law observance, thinking this is what God finds acceptable for righteousness. However, exactly the opposite is true. When we set about to earn righteousness, we fashion ourselves into being our own savior.

But we are already in the sea of sin and death. There is no way we can get ourselves out of it. Paul calls the good news of Jesus, the way of getting out of our fallen state, a stumbling stone. What we need is Jesus. This was the point of the law. It was to be an instructional tool to lead Israel to understand their need for Him, but they could not perceive this and rejected the premise.

Paul explains this. Consider his words concerning the last and the first mentioned by Jesus as Chapter 19 closes out –

“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; ³¹ but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. ³² Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. ³³ As it is written:
‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’” Romans 9:30-33

Lord God, may we trust solely in the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord for our salvation. The things we do after that may be good and honorable, but they cannot merit our salvation nor keep us saved. Help us to remember this and to always remain thankful to You for what You have done. It is truly good news! Amen.

Sunday, 17 May 2026

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And all, whoever he left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields because of My name, a hundredfold he will receive, and life perpetual he will inherit.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that those of the disciples who follow Him would sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Next, He continues, saying, “And all, whoever he left.”

Jesus is about to give a list of things people may give up for the sake of the gospel. In these words, He is referring to priorities toward God above all else. The word “all” extends the meaning to anyone, not merely those just given the promise in the previous verse. As for the list, He says, “houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields.”

Some transcripts omit the words “or wife.” That was clearly based on the thought that a husband and wife should never be separated. However, it is rather certain that the words are original. When reading this, we can get mentally stuck on what Jesus is saying. However, to leave something does not necessarily mean forsaking it.

When a person leaves his mother, she is still his mother. In Genesis 2, it says –

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

Mom and Dad are still Mom and Dad. The man, however, has made a new allegiance that takes first priority. People leave families all the time for whatever amount of time is necessary to accomplish a job. While writing this commentary, the USS Gerald R. Ford is deployed in the Middle East. So far, they have been at sea for 294 days. It is the longest deployment in over 50 years.

Each sailor with a family still has that family, but the navy is the sailor’s current priority. A missionary called to serve in Uganda for a year will have his wife waiting for him. If it is a long-term mission, families usually go together.

There is no reason to get mentally stuck on Jesus’ words, or to take them to unintended extremes. Jesus is referring to placing Him as the highest priority in whatever manner that entails for the situation. He confirms this, saying, “because of the ‘My name’.”

Whatever is done for Jesus in His name, obviously with the right heart attitude, is what He is referring to. If so, Jesus says that the effort will not be without its reward, noting that “a hundredfold he will receive.”

A new word is seen here, hekatontaplasión, a hundredfold. Some manuscripts say pollaplasiona, manifold. However, many translations that use those manuscripts still render the word as hundredfold.

Jesus’ words should not be considered as quantity but quality. In other words, if someone left one wife to serve the Lord, he should not expect a hundred wives. Rather, he should expect the blessing to be a hundredfold in results and in internal satisfaction. Understanding this, Jesus finishes with, “and ‘life, perpetual’ he will inherit.”

These words do not indicate merit for eternal life. Rather, Jesus has already said that what is done is for His name’s sake. The person referred to is a believer. All true believers receive eternal life. As such, Jesus includes this thought as an assurance of that, not as a grant based on performance.

Read the slight differences in Luke and Mark concerning Jesus’ words to get a better understanding of the overall intent of what He says –

“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰ who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 18:29, 30

“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29, 30

Life application: True story – A person in a church said he was called to be a missionary. Using this verse as a pretext to go forward, he notified the church and his wife that he was divorcing her to proceed with his calling.

This is a complete abuse of what Jesus is saying. The directives for marriage are laid out by both Jesus in the gospels and Paul in the epistles. If a person thinks he can get away with divorcing his wife to honor Jesus, he is severely deluded. Everything has a context. As noted above, a person does not stop being a son just because he unites with his wife.

Likewise, a person does not stop being a husband if he goes to serve the Lord (or the US Navy). Never attempt to use Scripture to justify the unjustifiable. The Lord will not be mocked, and judgment awaits all such disobedience.

Lord God, may our lives be an acceptable offering to You. Our lives are often filled with difficulties and trials, but help us to persevere and bring glory to You as we continue down the path You have set for us. During our walk, may we do our best to hold fast to Scripture, honoring You through faithful obedience. Amen.

Saturday, 16 May 2026

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Jesus, He said to them, ‘Amen! I say to you that you, the ‘having followed Me’, in the rebirth, when He shall sit, the Son of Man, upon ‘throne, glory, His’, you will sit, also you, upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes – the Israel.’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Peter noted to Jesus that he and the others had left all and followed Him. As such, he asked what they would have. In response, Matthew records, “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘Amen!’”

As usual, when making a solemn proclamation, Jesus begins with “Amen.” His word is to be accepted as an assured truth. Continuing, He says, “I say to you that you, these having followed Me.”

The response is limited to true followers of Jesus. For example, there are many people who claim Jesus at this time. Hebrew Roots, Mormons, and Seventh Day Adventists, all claim to follow Jesus, but their doctrine holds to either a false Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4), or a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-8). Jesus’ words are exclusive of such. He next says, “in the rebirth.”

Two points about this. First, it is a new and rare word, paliggenesia, rebirth. It is from palin, again, and genesis, nativity. As such, it refers to a spiritual rebirth or the messianic restoration. It is only found elsewhere in Titus 3:5 –

“…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration [paliggenesia] and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

The second point is what this is referring to. Some tie the word to the previous clause. Others to the second clause –

“I say to you that you, the ‘having followed Me’ in the rebirth…”

“I say to you that you, the ‘having followed Me’, in the rebirth, when He shall sit, the Son of Man, upon ‘throne, glory, His’.”

The first option assigns this time as beginning with John the Baptist and continuing through Christ’s ministry. The correct option is the latter. After Christ’s ministry is complete and the Holy Spirit is poured out, then the rebirth is made possible. Therefore, Jesus’ words are referring to what lies ahead in the future “when He shall sit, the Son of Man, upon His throne of glory.”

This then leaves open a couple of interpretations. Is this referring to the millennium or to the eternal state. Isaiah 65:17 speaks of a new heaven and a new earth. Thus, many equate it to what is said in Revelation 21:1, where it appears the same thought is presented.

However, this is incorrect. In Isaiah 65, it continues, referring to death, such as “For the child shall die one hundred years old.” In fact, such thoughts fill Isaiah 65:20-22. But in Revelation 21:4, it goes on to say, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

This cannot be the same time frame. Rather, it refers to the millennium. At that time, Jesus will sit on the throne of His glory, exactly what was prophesied to Israel in the prophets. This will be literally fulfilled. At that time, when Jesus is received as Israel’s promised Messiah, He emphatically declares to His disciples, “also you upon twelve thrones, judging Israel’s twelve tribes.”

The twelve disciples, who Jesus designates, will act in leadership roles. The idea of judging is not merely that of a court judging offenses. It is a way of referring to leadership, just as the judges of old served under the Lord. In this case, it will be the Lord incarnate with them serving and judging under Him.

Life application: It cannot be that the millennium will be overlooked. God made promises to Israel that must be fulfilled. To say that Isaiah 65 is to be fulfilled in “spiritual Israel,” supposedly meaning the church, does a complete disservice to the promises made exclusively to Israel. The dispensational model must be worked through for people to fully comprehend man’s total dependence on God’s grace as given through Jesus Christ.

If the millennium does not occur, there will be a void in this progression and in man’s seeing what needs to be seen. And more, contradictions in the text itself are seen, such as noted above. Other glaring and irreconcilable contradictions will also arise.

Jesus does not say that the rebirth is the time of the millennium. He says that the time of the millennium will occur in the time of the rebirth –

NO: “the ‘having followed Me’, in the rebirth, He shall sit, the Son of Man.”
YES: “the ‘having followed Me’, in the rebirth, when He shall sit, the Son of Man.”

Jesus includes the word hotan, when (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty). In Titus, Paul has shown that the rebirth is an event that occurs based on our relationship with Jesus. It is a condition that believers now possess.

At some point after the commencement of this event, which has been going on for two thousand years thus far, those in this state will enter the millennium, and Jesus will sit on His throne of glory. This promise is made apart from any notion of the rapture or the tribulation. It is simply a point of fact that will occur.

The rapture was, and remained, an unknown event until it was described by Paul with the words, “Behold, I tell you a mystery” (1 Corinthians 15:51). There is no need to shove either the church age or the rapture into Jesus’ words here. They simply do not fit. He is speaking to Israel, under the law, about things promised in the law to Israel. He is further defining those matters at this time.

Lord God, You are ever faithful to Your people. We thank You that it is so. Your faithfulness to Israel means You will be likewise faithful to us. And what an encouragement that is. We fail You often, but because of Jesus, we are secure in You. Hallelujah to You, O God! Amen.

Friday, 15 May 2026

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” Matthew 19:27

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Then answering, Peter, he said to Him, ‘You behold! We, we left all, and we followed You! What, hence, it will be to us?’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus assured the disciples that even if salvation is impossible with men, with God, all things are possible. Next, Matthew records, “Then answering, Peter, he said to Him.”

Peter’s zeal to speak up once again comes to the forefront. He was bold to speak, not always with careful thought behind his words, but at times his utterances were profound. In this case, his question follows naturally after the discussion about entering the kingdom of the heavens. He emphatically says, “You behold! We, we left all, and we followed You!”

Earlier, Jesus had said to the young ruler, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21).

Peter has emphatically noted that they had done just that. They were not rulers in Israel, but they had willingly stepped away from their previous lives as soon as Jesus made the call. This does not mean they didn’t continue to fish. Jesus told Peter to go fishing, and in the first fish he caught, there would be a coin in its mouth.

What it does mean is that they set aside their vocations to wholeheartedly follow Jesus. If at some point, Jesus said, “We need fish,” it can be assumed that those who were fishers went out and got some. Whether they worked or not at times is not the issue. The issue is that their lives, including any temporary jobs, were directed to the ministry.

Because they had left all behind to follow Jesus, Peter’s emphatic declaration was surely intended to “remind” Jesus of this fact. And so, he continues, asking, “What, hence, it will be to us?”

The words can be taken in various ways. But the substance behind the question is just as anyone would rightfully wonder, regardless of the intent of the heart, “Lord, what lies ahead for us in the kingdom?” One may have been thinking of riches, another of sitting in a powerful position, etc.

It is impossible for us to know the intent behind Peter’s question, but it is a logical one from any perspective. The fact that it is asked is really the issue. Jesus said to the young ruler, “Come, follow Me.” Nothing was stated to him about what type of treasure in heaven he would receive. But Peter wants to know.

Life application: The Bible tells us various things about what believers can expect, chief among them is the prospect of eternal life. However, we are not given a detailed list of the treasures associated with what eternal life will be.

If we are to live lives that are like we have now, getting sick, breaking bones, frustrations of various sorts, etc., would eternal life really look so great? What we do know is that things will be very different. Things like pain, death, and sorrow will be gone. These are promises in God’s word. As such, we can be confident that whatever else is associated with eternal life, it will be wonderful.

As such, there is no need to ask beyond what has been promised. God will reveal it to us in due time. The call will be made, and this mortal will be replaced with immortality. This is the great hope of the believer. Until that day, may we not lose heart. The world is a tragic place at times, and we must endure through it.

We should not take what we know about existence now and assume that what is coming will be like it, but better. Rather, it will be unlike it and infinitely better. Hold fast to this. God has promised us restoration. Therefore, it will come to pass.

Lord God, how grateful we are for the hope of a new and better existence, apart from sin and its consequences. May our hearts and minds be directed to You all our days as we anticipate the glory to come. Praises to You, O God, for the words of life and restoration promised in Your word. Amen.

Thursday, 14 May 2026

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Having gazed, also, Jesus, He said to them, ‘With men, this – impossible, it is. With, also, God – all possible, it is.’” (CG).

In the previous verse, the disciples were floored at Jesus’ words about the chances of the rich entering the kingdom of God, asking, “Who then can be saved?” Because of their question, it next says, “Having gazed, also, Jesus.”

This is only the second time the word emblepó is seen in Matthew. It is from en, in, and blepo, to look. As such, it is more than just looking, but “in-looking” or gazing at, observing fixedly, etc. In Matthew, it doesn’t say who or what Jesus gazed at, but in Mark, it specifically says He gazed at them, meaning the disciples.

Something prompted more than just a cursory look. They may have had confusion, fear, or even a sense of horror at what they heard. If salvation is that hard to obtain, then what will happen to them, their families, or even their nation? Jesus, understanding the magnitude of weight His words placed on their minds, next responds. Matthew records, “He said to them, ‘With men, this – impossible, it is.’”

A new word is seen, adunatos, to be unable. It is derived from the negative particle a adjoined to dunatos, powerful or capable. That is derived from dunamai, to be able or possible. Jesus refers to the impossibility of the rich saving themselves (with men).

Whatever thoughts the disciples had about salvation, Jesus had taken their highest supposed ideal, that of a rich man, and He had negated any chance of such a person saving himself.

The implication, then, is that all others would fare just the same. None could save themselves. With that difficult thought expressed, He then provides a ray of good news, saying, “With, also, God – all possible, it is.”

The first use of dunatos is seen here. It was explained already. Where there is no chance of humanity saving itself, with God, it is possible. The disciples had not thought through their state from a biblical perspective. But neither had anyone in Israel done so. If they had, they would not believe that the rich were more easily saved than anyone else.

Only in the writings of Scripture, inspired by God, is there a hint of the thought expressed by Jesus. There is a problem that exists within humanity that, by default, negates any hope of man being able to restore himself to God. That problem is sin. It is an internal infection that is found in all humanity.

As sin comes through law, it should have dawned on Israel that the medium in which they existed, that of law, would never correct their state, even with the efforts of the most law-observant person.

Life application: Imagine a perfect precision machine that requires a particular perfect part to work without catastrophic failure. It is known that such a part is possible to be constructed, but from the first prototype onward, a flaw is found in every single part that follows.

Would it make sense to use one of those parts in this perfectly precision machine? Of course not! The machine itself would fail. It would be pointless to even try to use a part with a known defect. Every single copy of the original would have to be destroyed.

The problem isn’t with the form of the prototype. Rather, it is the state of the prototype. Every piece molded after it carries the same state. To resolve this, another prototype with the same form could be introduced. However, if it had a perfect state to go along with its form, it would be an acceptable “first part.”

And more, because it isn’t the form, but the state, it could be used to change the state of parts from the original prototype. The form wasn’t the problem. There must be a realm, or state, in which the part exists that will make each previously defective part acceptable. Once that is realized, the problem is resolved.

The problem for the parts is that they have no power to change their state. They simply exist in the state in which they were produced. But an external source could make the change. This is what Jesus is speaking about. Humanity is in a state that does not, and indeed cannot, restore itself to perfection.

But God, who is outside of our realm, could make the change. He could, and He did. When that change was effected, it was then made available to all others. This is why no other religion on the planet can bring salvation. They are dealing within the state of corruption. This is because there is one God, and His correction for our state is only found in Jesus.

Only this one, true God, can bring about the necessary change in our state. And He did! Thank God for the goodness of God in Christ. Through the incarnation, cross, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we go from the state of law to the state of grace. Hooray for Jesus!

Lord God, we have a fault within us that is impossible to correct. No wonder destroying the whole world by flood, minus eight people, still didn’t fix the problem. The corruption remained. What amazing lessons You are giving us in Your word. We need what You have done through Christ. It is evident that nothing else will do. And so, we choose JESUS! Amen.