Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 19:27

"Then answered Peter and said unto him, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we have?" — Matthew 19:27 (ASV)

Peter, impressed by “impossible” and speaking for his fellow disciples, thinks Jesus’ words are unfair to the Twelve. His statement suggests that he and the others are still thinking in terms of deserving or earning God’s favor. Jesus does not castigate his disciples for being mercenary: they have made sacrifices and deserve an answer. But his statement that the blessing to come (whether belonging exclusively to the Twelve at the consummation of the kingdom [v.28] or to all believers now [vv.29–30]) far surpasses any sacrifice they might make, implies that Jesus is giving a gentle rebuke.

The remarkable feature of this verse is that the Twelve will “sit on twelve thrones,” sharing judgment with the Son of Man. That believers will at the consummation have a part in judging is not uncommon in the NT (1 Corinthians 6:2). Jesus’ emphasis here, however, seems to be that the Twelve will someday judge the physical nation of Israel, presumably for its general rejection of Jesus Messiah.