Lovers of God

The last will be first and the first will be last

Have you sacrificed a lot for the kingdom of heaven? Well, if you want those sacrifices to have eternal value then you need to understand something about the kingdom of heaven. Consider Mt 19:27-30 and Mk 10:28-31.

Mt 19:27-30 27 Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything 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 regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon 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 farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last; and the last, first."

Mk 10:28-31 28 Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You." 29 Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, 30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last, first."

Jesus was talking about how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, and then Peter points out how many sacrifices he had made to follow Jesus. Jesus then answers that those who made sacrifices would be rewarded, but that many who are first would be last, and last, first.