What does Luke 18:30 mean?
A wealthy man has learned that to inherit eternal life he must be willing to reject the comforts of life on earth. In his case, that meant being willing to give away all his possessions. This was too much to ask. The man loved his wealthy life and his possessions and walks away from Jesus in discouragement (Luke 18:18–23).Peter is quick to point out that he and the other disciples have already given up everything (Luke 18:28). Jesus encourages them and tells them whatever they have sacrificed for God's kingdom, they will receive even more in this life.
Jesus claimed this for Himself, as well. When Mary and His brothers came to the house where He was teaching, intending to take Him away, He turned to the crowd around Him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:34–35). The family Christians will receive is in the church. The houses we will receive are the homes of our new family members.
What Luke doesn't include but Mark does is that they will receive these things "with persecutions" (Mark 10:30). The growth of the church means new brothers and sisters, but it also means resistance from the Jews and the Gentiles (Acts 5:38–41; 12:1–3; 16:22–24).
Jesus did warn them. He challenged them to pick up their cross and follow Him, saying, "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:24–25).
The disciples don't understand the extent to which they will sacrifice, but they will meet the challenge in the power of the Holy Spirit thanks to the sacrifice Jesus will make (Luke 18:31–34).
