Mateus 19

Mateus 19

Henry: A hundred times as much in this life; sometimes in kind, in the things themselves which they have parted with. God will raise up for his suffering servants more friends, who will be so to them for Christ’s sake, than they have left that were so for their own sakes. The apostles, wherever they came, met with those who were kind to them, and entertained them, and opened their hearts and doors to them. However, they will receive a hundred times as much, in kindness. Their graces shall increase, their comforts abound, they shall have signs of God’s love, and then they may truly say they have received a hundred times more comfort in God and Christ than they could have in wife, or children. Holman Apologetics Commentary on 100 times as much - Critics say Jesus is giving a material incentive for following him, but in fact he shows that serving him for the primary purpose of receiving rewards and prominence is the least noble of motivations for a disciple. Those who serve for the purpose of gaining rewards will be last, but those who have served only for the motivation of responding in obedience to Jesus’ summons will be first (cf. Mt 20:1-16). Peter’s response shows that he too is driven by a less than pure desire for treasure in heaven (Mt 19:23-30). The rich ruler had refused to exchange his wealth for following Jesus, and Jesus then warned his disciples about the danger that riches pose to a person’s eternal salvation. Peter flaunted the sacrifice that he and the other disciples had made to follow Jesus (“Look, we have left everything and followed You”), and boldly asked, “So what will there be for us?” (Mt 19:27). His question revealed a wrong motive. Jesus acknowledges Peter’s sacrifice, and does say that he will be rewarded, but this is the least noble of motivations for a disciple. (See Holman Apologetics Commentary)