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Week 15 — Day 1
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, Behold, we have left all and followed You. What then will there be for us?
28 And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the restoration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My name’s sake shall receive a hundred times as much and shall inherit eternal life.
30 But many first will be last, and many last first.
[In these verses we will consider the reward of the kingdom.] The kingdom reward is of two parts. The first part is in this age, and the second part is in the coming age. The first part of the kingdom reward is mainly related to material things and natural things. If, for the kingdom’s sake, or for the sake of the Lord’s name, we leave all these things, the Lord will reward us a hundredfold. In verse 29 the Lord said, “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My name’s sake shall receive a hundred times as much and shall inherit eternal life.” To receive a hundred times as many houses, fields, and relatives is to be rewarded in this age (Mark 10:30). This refers to our enjoyment of brothers and sisters in the Lord, with their possessions.
In verse 29, the Lord also speaks of inheriting eternal life. To inherit eternal life is to be rewarded in the coming age (Luke 18:29-30), in the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens, with an enjoyment of the divine life that is fuller than the enjoyment in this age. In the manifestation of the kingdom, we will participate in the enjoyment of eternal life in the millennial kingdom with the Lord Jesus. This will be greater than the first aspect of the kingdom reward, which we receive in this age.
In verse 28 the Lord said, “Truly I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the restoration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” The restoration is the restoration in the coming kingdom age (Acts 3:21), after the Lord’s second coming. In the coming kingdom the overcomers will sit on thrones to reign over the earth (Rev. 20:4). The first twelve apostles, including Peter, will judge the twelve tribes of Israel, and the other overcomers will rule over the nations (Rev. 2:26).
After hearing the Lord’s answer, Peter had nothing more to say. His mouth was shut. But the Lord went on to say, “But many first will be last, and many last first” (v. 30).…The Lord gave the parable in 20:1-16 to explain the meaning of this verse. The word “For” at the beginning of 20:1 indicates that this parable is an explanation of 19:30.
In order to understand 19:30 and the parable in 20:1-16, we need to see that Peter had a commercial mentality.…Therefore the Lord said that many (but not all) who are first will be last, and the last first. This indicates that many, like Peter, who were the first would be the last to receive the reward. The Lord said this in order to revolutionize Peter’s commercial mentality. The Lord seemed to be saying to Peter,…“Although you must pay in order to receive the reward of the kingdom, receiving the reward is not a commercial matter.…The price you have paid means nothing.”
Actually, what we pay is refuse (Phil 3:8). Everything apart from Christ is dung. The Lord seemed to be saying to Peter,…“Peter, all you have given up to obtain [the kingship] is dung.…Although the price you pay is dung, I will reward you with the kingship.” Peter, who had a commercial mentality, needed to be reeducated by the Lord Jesus. (Life-study of Matthew, pp. 638-642)
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 638-642; Hymns: #545, #350
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 15 — Day 2
1 For the kingdom of the heavens is like a man, who is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard.
2 And having agreed with the workmen for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
8 And when evening fell, the master of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning from the last ones to the first.
9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, they received each a denarius.
10 And when the first ones came, they supposed that they would receive more. And they themselves also received each a denarius.
11 And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,
12 Saying, These last ones worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat.
13 But he answered one of them and said, Friend, I am doing nothing unrighteous to you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14 Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last one even as I have given to you.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye evil because I am good?
16 Thus shall the 1last be first and the first last.
The householder [in verse 1] is Christ. Morning here is 6:00 a.m., denoting the earliest part of the church age, when Christ came to call His disciples into the kingdom. The workmen denote the disciples, and the vineyard denotes the kingdom. The agreement referred to in verse 2 denotes the agreement He made in 19:27-29. The denarius is the reward the Lord offered Peter in His agreement with him in 19:27-29.
According to verse 8, the householder rewarded the workmen at evening, that is, at 6:00 p.m., denoting the end of the church age.…Verse 8 says, “And when evening fell, the master of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning from the last ones to the first.” This is against the natural and commercial concept. It indicates that the wages paid to the last workmen are not according to their work but according to the gracious wish of the Lord of the vineyard.
Much to the surprise of those hired first, the last were the first to receive the reward, although they worked just one hour, not during the heat of the day.…Those hired first should remember Romans 9:14-15 and 20. There is no unrighteousness with the Lord. He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. Who were they to reply against the Lord? [Matt. 20:11-12]. But Peter’s natural concept, representing that of all believers, was commercial; he did not know the Lord’s gracious wish. Thus, he murmured against the Lord according to legality.
To be saved is to receive grace, and to gain the reward is to enjoy the grace we have received.…After receiving grace we must learn to enjoy grace. To leave all things behind and follow the Lord is not to pay a price; it is to enjoy the grace we have received. Do not think that you have sacrificed anything. What you sacrifice is just dung; it is vanity of vanities. Everything under the sun is vanity. Your education, position, and future are all vanity.…To leave all things behind is to be unloaded and released.…If we have given up all things for the Lord in a proper spirit, we would say, “O Lord,…I am not paying a price — I am daily enjoying grace.” (Life-study of Matthew, pp. 642-644, 646)
161 The last are the latest workmen, and the first are the earliest ones. In working, the earliest come first, but in receiving the reward, the last become the first. It is in this way that the Lord makes the last first and the first last.
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 642-647; Hymns: #497
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 15 — Day 3
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside privately, and on the way He said to them,
18 Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes. And they will condemn Him to 1death,
19 And deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised.
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, worshipping and asking something of Him.
21 And He said to her, What do you want? She said to Him, Say that these two sons of mine will sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your kingdom.
181 This was the third time the Lord revealed His death to the disciples. The first was in Caesarea Philippi, before His transfiguration (16:13, 21). The second was in Galilee, after His transfiguration (17:22). This third time was on the way to Jerusalem. This revelation was a prophecy, altogether strange to the natural concept of the disciples; yet it would be fulfilled literally, in every detail.
It seems to me rather unusual that after the definition of the kingdom reward the Lord would once again unveil His crucifixion and resurrection. Apparently this has no significance. However, if you get into the depth of this book, you will see that this is a very significant continuation. In order to receive the kingdom reward, we need to experience the cross and the resurrection.…Apart from experiencing the Lord’s cross and resurrection, it is impossible to experience the Lord’s life for the reward of the kingdom. In Philippians 3 Paul said that for Christ’s sake he counted all things as refuse. Then he said that he desired to know Christ and the power of His resurrection that he might be conformed to Christ’s death. Paul had an adequate understanding of the Lord’s death and resurrection. This understanding is for us to experience Christ as our life for the kingdom. For the kingdom reward, we need the experience of the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection.
What was the disciples’ reaction to the Lord’s full unveiling of His crucifixion and resurrection? They did not say, “Amen, Lord. The first and second times we didn’t see this. Thank You, Lord, for taking us aside this time and purposely telling us about this. Now we realize that You must pass through death and resurrection. No doubt this includes all of us. Eventually, we also shall experience this wonderful death and resurrection.” The disciples definitely did not react like this. Rather, verses 20 and 21 say, “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, worshipping and asking something of Him. And He said to her, What do you want? She said to Him, Say that these two sons of mine will sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your kingdom.” The mother of the sons of Zebedee was the Lord’s aunt, His mother’s sister, and Zebedee’s sons, James and John, were His cousins. Thus, there was a natural relationship between them and the Lord. Immediately after the Lord had unveiled His death and resurrection for the third time, the mother of James and John came to Him asking that her two sons might sit on His right hand and left hand in the kingdom. Although the Lord had spoken of the crucifixion and the resurrection, their mind was set on the throne. Often we are exactly like James and John. Again and again they heard about the crucifixion and the resurrection. But in them and in their mother there was the desire for the throne. This is the ambition for position.…This was their reaction to the Lord’s word about His death and resurrection. (Life-study of Matthew, pp. 649-651)
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 649-651; Hymns: #487, 488
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 15 — Day 4
22 But Jesus answered and said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup which I am about to drink? They said to Him, We are able.
23 He said to them, My cup you shall indeed drink, but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.
24 And when the ten heard this, they were indignant concerning the two brothers.
26 …But whoever wants to become great among you shall be your 1servant,
27 And whoever wants to be first among you shall be your slave;
28 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.
30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!
34 And Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they received their sight and followed Him.
If we ask to sit on the throne in the kingdom, we must be prepared to drink the cup of suffering [vv. 22-23]. To suffer the cross is the way to enter into the kingdom (Acts 14:22). The selfish entreaty of the mother of John and James afforded the Lord an opportunity to reveal the way to enter into the kingdom.
In answering the mother of James and John the Lord said, “To sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father” (v. 23). These words indicate that the Lord had a submissive spirit. He did not assume anything, but gave place to the Father. Standing in the position of man, the Lord was fully subject to the Father; He did not assume the right to do anything outside the Father. We all need to learn to give everything to the Lord. We have no place to say anything regarding position.
In verse 24 we see the fleshly rivalry of the disciples.… [They] were more than angry; they were indignant, apparently fearing that nothing would remain for them. The twelve were filled to the brim with ambition for position, and nothing regarding the Lord’s death and resurrection penetrated them. What a pitiful situation!
Regarding the matter of ambition for position, two things are clear: first, in 1 Corinthians 12:28 Paul lists the function of the elders [administrations] after the function of the deacons [helps]; [hence, in the New Testament there is a verse telling us that the administrating of the elders is lower than the help of the deacons]; second, to be an elder is to be a slave. The matter of the leading ones being slaves corresponds to the Lord’s word in [Matthew] 20:25 through 27.…What is revealed in the Bible is absolutely different from our natural understanding.…When our concept has been thoroughly revolutionized, the shame of ambition for position will be slain.
In 20:29-34 we have a record of the healing of the two blind men. The fact that this incident immediately follows the record of the mother of James and John indicates that James and John were blind.…According to the Old Testament, the healing of blindness is related to the millennium.…No one who is blind is on the way to the kingdom. Apparently James and John were on the way; actually, they were blind and on the wayside. Their eyes had not yet been opened to see the way of the cross.…As long as we are ambitious, we are on the wayside and need healing. As soon as the two blind men received their sight, they followed the Lord on the way. (Life-study of Matthew, pp. 651-652, 654, 656-657)
261 This is absolutely contrary to the natural, self-seeking mind. The indignation of the ten disciples (v. 24) also afforded the Lord an opportunity to reveal the way to live in the kingdom: to be willing to serve others as a servant, even as a slave (v. 27), rather than rule over others.
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 651-658; Hymns: #631
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 15 — Day 5
1 And when they 1drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 Saying to them, Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her; untie them and lead them to Me.
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you, meek and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, a foal of a beast of burden.”
6 And the disciples went and did as Jesus directed them,
7 And led the donkey and the colt. And they put their 1garments on them, and He sat upon them.
8 And most of the crowd spread their own garments in the road, and others cut 1branches from the trees and spread them in the road.
9 And the crowds who went before Him and those who followed cried out, saying, 1Hosanna to the 2Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
This chapter marks the beginning of the Lord’s last week on earth.…The Lord purposely went back to Jerusalem not to minister, preach, teach, or perform miracles, but to present Himself as the Lamb of God to be slaughtered, to be crucified.
[A warm welcome to the meek King is covered in verses 1 through 11.] The way [He] came into Jerusalem fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. The term “the daughter” of Zion in 21:5 denotes the people of Jerusalem (cf. Psa. 137:8; 45:12). This prophecy was being fulfilled to them.
Verse 5 says that the King came “mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, a foal of a beast of burden.” This signifies the humble and lowly state in which the King of the heavenly kingdom was willing to remain.…The heavenly King came not with haughty splendor, but with gentle, humble meekness. This impression of meekness is strengthened by the colt accompanying a donkey to bear the meek King. The Lord Jesus did not ride into Jerusalem proudly on a horse. He came mounted upon a little donkey, even a small colt. No earthly king would do this.…[He] came not to fight or to compete, but to be a meek King. The presence of the baby donkey testified that the Lord did not care to fight or compete with anyone.
The people honored the Lord with their clothing, that is, with whatever they had.…We need to honor the Lord, the meek King, with whatever we are. No matter what our condition may be, we have something with which to honor Him.… [Furthermore], the people shouted out a quotation from Psalm 118: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of Jehovah” (v. 26). According to Psalm 118, only the One who came in the name of the Lord was qualified to be praised in such a way. Thus, the spontaneous praise of the people sovereignly indicated that this meek King came not in His own name, but in the name of Jehovah. (Life-study of Matthew, pp. 659-663)
11 They began the journey from Galilee in 19:1. They were on the way in 20:17 and passed through Jericho in 20:29. Now they came to the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem.
71 Garments signify the human virtues in people’s conduct. The disciples honored the lowly King by putting their garments on the donkey and the colt for Him to ride on, and the crowd honored Him by spreading their garments in the road for Him to pass through (v. 8).
81 The branches of the palm tree (John 12:13), which signify the victorious life (Rev. 7:9) and the satisfaction of enjoying the rich produce of that life, as typified by the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40; Neh. 8:15). The crowd used both their garments and the palm tree branches to celebrate the lowly King’s coming.
91 A Hebrew word meaning save now (Psa. 118:25).
92 The royal title of the lowly King.
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 659-664; Hymns: #170
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 15 — Day 6
12 And Jesus entered into the temple and cast out all those who were selling and buying in the temple. And He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling the doves,
13 And He said to them, It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you are making it a den of robbers.
14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
17 And leaving them, He went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.
18 Now in the morning as He returned to the city, He became hungry.
19 And seeing a 1fig tree on the way, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. And He said to it, May there 2no longer be fruit from you forever! And the fig tree was instantly 3dried up.
When the Lord entered the city of Jerusalem, the first thing He did was cleanse the temple. Any earthly king, upon entering the capital, would immediately have ascended to the throne. But the Lord did not do this because He was not for His own interests, but for God’s interests. His heart was not for His kingdom, but for God’s house.
It is the same in principle with us today.…On the day He came into us to be our life and our King, He did not enthrone Himself, but cleansed God’s temple, which today is our spirit, the habitation of God (Eph. 2:22).
Our spirit should be a house of prayer, but because of the fall it has been made a den of robbers. But when Jesus comes into us He drives all the robbers away and cleanses the temple of our spirit. After the cleansing, the Lord healed the blind and the lame in the temple (v. 14). This indicates that His cleansing of the temple causes people to have the sight to see and the strength to move.
In His last visit to Jerusalem the Lord remained there only during the day for His ministry. Every evening He departed to lodge in Bethany, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives (Mark 11:19; Luke 21:37), where the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and the house of Simon were (John 11:1; Matt. 26:6). In Jerusalem He was rejected by the leaders of Judaism, but in Bethany He was welcomed by His lovers.…In a very definite sense, today’s religion is a Jerusalem to the Lord Jesus; it is not His lodging place. The lovers of Christ are not in Jerusalem, but in Bethany.…We should not be the Jerusalem people, but the Bethany lovers.
Verse 19 says, “And seeing a fig tree on the way, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only.”…At that time, the Lord Jesus came from God to Israel hungry for some fruit to satisfy God’s hunger. However, instead of fruit, He found only leaves. [Hence, He said to the fig tree, “May there no longer be fruit from you forever!” And the fig tree was instantly dried up.]
According to our experience, we can testify that first the meek King comes into us, and we welcome Him. However, He comes in not to be enthroned, but to cleanse the temple of God, because He cares for God’s house. Caring also for God’s satisfaction, He desires fruit from God’s people. But most of His people cannot afford Him any fruit. As a result, they are dried up.…Whenever someone is dried up, his spirit does not function. Hence, there is no temple and no fruit, no proper worship and no satisfaction to God. (Life-study of Matthew, pp. 664-668)
191 The fig tree here is a symbol of the nation of Israel (Jer. 24:2, 5, 8). This tree was full of leaves but fruitless, signifying that at that time the nation of Israel was full of outward show but had nothing that could satisfy God.
192 This signifies the curse on the nation of Israel.
193 From that time the nation of Israel was truly dried up.
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 664-668; Hymns: #611
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 15 — Prophecy
IV. The King’s being rejected (12:1—27:66)
D. The path of rejection (16:13—23:39)
2. After arriving in Judea (19:1—20:16)
e. The reward of the kingdom (19:27—20:16)
3. On the way to Jerusalem (20:17—21:11)
а. The third unveiling of the crucifixion and resurrection (20:17-19)
b. The throne of the kingdom and the cup of the cross (20:20-28)
c. The healing of the two blind men (20:29-34)
d. A warm welcome to the meek King (21:1-11)
4. In Jerusalem (21:12—23:39)
а. Cleansing the temple (21:12-16)
b. Lodging in Bethany (21:17)
c. Cursing the nation of Israel (21:18-22)
In Matthew 19:27—20:16 we have the reward of the kingdom and the parable of the kingdom reward. The kingdom reward is of two parts. The first part is in this age, and is mainly related to material things and natural things. The second part is in the coming age, in the manifestation of the kingdom, with an enjoyment of the divine life that is fuller than the enjoyment in this age.
Peter said to the Lord, “Behold, we have left all and followed You. What then will there be for us?” (19:27). Therefore, the Lord said that many (but not all) who are first will be last, and the last first (v. 30). This indicates that many, like Peter, who were the first would be the last to receive the reward. The Lord said this in order to revolutionize Peter’s commercial mentality. Receiving the reward is not a commercial matter. Actually, the price we pay means nothing. What could we pay to receive the full enjoyment of eternal life in the manifestation of the kingdom? Actually, what we pay is refuse (Phil. 3:8). The reward is not a legal matter but a matter of grace. To be saved is to receive grace, and to gain the reward is to enjoy the grace we have received.
Immediately after the Lord unveiled His death and resurrection the third time, the mother of James and John came to Him asking that her two sons might sit on His right hand and left hand in the kingdom. Although the Lord had spoken of the crucifixion and the resurrection, their mind was set on the throne. This is the ambition for position. If we ask to sit on the throne in the kingdom, we must be prepared to drink the cup of suffering. To suffer the cross is the way to enter into the kingdom (Acts 14:22).
Matthew 21 marks the beginning of the Lord’s last week on earth. The heavenly King came not with haughty splendor, but with gentle, humble meekness. This impression of meekness is strengthened by the colt accompanying a donkey to bear the meek King. The people honored the Lord with their clothing, that is, with whatever they had, and they spread palm branches in the road recognizing that He was the One with the victorious life.
When the Lord entered the city of Jerusalem, the first thing He did was cleanse the temple. His heart was not for His kingdom, but for God’s house. It is the same in principle with us today. On the day He came into us to be our life and our King, He did not enthrone Himself, but cleansed God’s temple, which today is our spirit, the habitation of God (Eph. 2:22). After the cleansing, the Lord healed the blind and the lame in the temple (Matt. 21:14). This indicates that His cleansing of the temple causes people to have the sight to see and the strength to move.
The Lord cursed the fig tree — a symbol of the nation of Israel — because it was full of leaves but fruitless, signifying that at that time the nation of Israel was full of outward show but had nothing that could satisfy God. The concern of the meek King is for God’s house and God’s satisfaction.
Composition for prophecy with main point and sub-points:
