Church Fathers Commentary Luke 22:28-30

"But ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations; and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." — Luke 22:28-30 (ASV)

Theophylact of Ohrid: As the Lord had pronounced woe upon the traitor, so on the other hand, He promises blessings to the rest of the disciples, saying, You are the ones who have continued with me...

The Venerable Bede: For it is not the first effort of patience, but long-continued perseverance, that is rewarded with the glory of the heavenly kingdom. Perseverance (which is also called constancy or fortitude of mind) is, so to speak, the pillar and support of all virtues. The Son of God then leads those who remain with Him in His temptations to the everlasting kingdom. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Hence it follows, And I appoint for you a kingdom...

St. Ambrose of Milan: The kingdom of God is not of this world. But it is not equality with God, but likeness to Him, to which humanity must aspire. For Christ alone is the full image of God, because of the unity of His Father’s glory expressed in Him. But a righteous person is in the image of God if, for the sake of imitating the likeness of the divine life, he despises the world through the knowledge of God. Therefore, we also eat the Body and Blood of Christ, so that we may be partakers of eternal life. From this it follows, That you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. For the reward promised to us is not food and drink, but the sharing of heavenly grace and life.

The Venerable Bede: Or, the table offered for all saints to richly enjoy is the glory of a heavenly life, with which those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled, resting in the long-desired enjoyment of the true God.

Theophylact of Ohrid: He said this not as if they would have bodily food there, or as if His kingdom were to be a physical one. For their life then will be like the life of angels, as He told the Sadducees before. But Paul also says, the kingdom of God is not meat and drink.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: He uses the things of our present life to describe spiritual things. For those who sit at the table of earthly kings as their guests exercise a high privilege. So then, using human standards, He shows who will be rewarded by Him with the greatest honors.

The Venerable Bede: This, then, is the exchange at the right hand of the Most High: those who now humbly rejoice to serve their fellow servants will then be fed at our Lord’s table on high with the banquet of everlasting life. And those who remain with the Lord here in temptations while being unjustly judged will then come with Him as just judges over their tempters. Hence it follows, And sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Theophylact of Ohrid: That is, the unbelievers from the twelve tribes who are condemned.

St. Ambrose of Milan: But the twelve thrones are not, so to speak, physical resting places. Rather, just as Christ judges in the divine likeness—by knowledge of hearts, not by examining actions, rewarding virtue and condemning iniquity—so too the Apostles are appointed to a spiritual judgment. This judgment is for rewarding faith, condemning unbelief, repelling error with virtue, and inflicting vengeance on the sacrilegious.

St. John Chrysostom: What then, will Judas also sit there? Observe the law that God gave through Jeremiah: If I have promised any good, and you are found unworthy of it, I will punish you. Therefore, when speaking to His disciples, He did not make a general promise, but added, You who have continued with me in my temptations.

The Venerable Bede: Judas is excluded from the high excellence of this promise, for it must be supposed that he had gone out before the Lord said this. Also excluded are all who, having heard the words of the incomprehensible Sacrament, have turned back.