Many Who Are First Will Be Last
Sep 24, 2026 · 59 min · 9 segments
Matthew 19:27-20:19
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Sep 24, 2026 · 59 min · 9 segments
Matthew 19:27-20:19
Okay, so the statement, I believe there'll be varying degrees of eternal reward for Christians in heaven.
Now, as we look at our text today, I wanna see four things.
First, the promise of reward.
We'll see this in verses 27 to 29.
Second, the temptation of reward or the danger of reward is verse 30, a warning that Jesus gives.
Third, we'll look at the scandal of grace.
This is then the parable that's given, chapter 20, verses 1 through 16.
And then finally, we'll look at the king of the last.
This is verses 17 through 19.
Now, admittedly, scholars have had a hard time understanding and interpreting the parable here in chapter 20.
People are kind of all over the place.
What I want us to do, though, and I want to show my homework as we walk through why I think this is talking about the varying degrees of reward.
And to do that, we have to go back to the context before the parable.
If you were here last week, you noticed we didn't spend much time in 27 through 30, did we? I mentioned it briefly, the way in which Jesus described, if you sell everything you have and come follow me, there'll be treasures in heaven.
But we didn't have much time to talk about it.
I think because this section fits more neatly with the parable than it does with the previous section of the story of the rich young ruler.
Here in verse 27, it begins and is sparked by this question that Peter has.
You see Peter's question in verse 27? Jesus, see, we have left everything and followed you.
So what will there be for us? And this question is sparked by Peter in response to the exchange with the rich young ruler.
And Jesus was confronting the rich young ruler, showing him that he can't get himself into heaven through his prominence, through his obedience, but he has to become like a child, like nothing, empty-handed, treasuring Christ more than he treasures money.
Otherwise, he will never be able to get into heaven.
But if he does that, if he sells everything he has, gives to the poor, then he will have treasure in heaven.
That's back in verse 21.
The disciples are watching this exchange, listening to this exchange, and I imagine Peter's ears perk up at that sentence.
If you leave your family, if you sell what you have and follow Jesus, there's treasure in heaven.
Okay, so the statement, I believe there'll be varying degrees of eternal reward for Christians in heaven.
Now, as we look at our text today, I wanna see four things.
First, the promise of reward.
We'll see this in verses 27 to 29.
Second, the temptation of reward or the danger of reward is verse 30, a warning that Jesus gives.
Third, we'll look at the scandal of grace.
This is then the parable that's given, chapter 20, verses 1 through 16.
And then finally, we'll look at the king of the last.
This is verses 17 through 19.
Now, admittedly, scholars have had a hard time understanding and interpreting the parable here in chapter 20.
People are kind of all over the place.
What I want us to do, though, and I want to show my homework as we walk through why I think this is talking about the varying degrees of reward.
And to do that, we have to go back to the context before the parable.
If you were here last week, you noticed we didn't spend much time in 27 through 30, did we? I mentioned it briefly, the way in which Jesus described, if you sell everything you have and come follow me, there'll be treasures in heaven.
But we didn't have much time to talk about it.
I think because this section fits more neatly with the parable than it does with the previous section of the story of the rich young ruler.
Here in verse 27, it begins and is sparked by this question that Peter has.
You see Peter's question in verse 27? Jesus, see, we have left everything and followed you.
So what will there be for us? And this question is sparked by Peter in response to the exchange with the rich young ruler.
And Jesus was confronting the rich young ruler, showing him that he can't get himself into heaven through his prominence, through his obedience, but he has to become like a child, like nothing, empty-handed, treasuring Christ more than he treasures money.
Otherwise, he will never be able to get into heaven.
But if he does that, if he sells everything he has, gives to the poor, then he will have treasure in heaven.
That's back in verse 21.
The disciples are watching this exchange, listening to this exchange, and I imagine Peter's ears perk up at that sentence.
If you leave your family, if you sell what you have and follow Jesus, there's treasure in heaven.
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