Luke 18:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

NIV: "Truly I tell you," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

NASB: And He said to them, 'Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,

CSB: So he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God,

NLT: Yes,' Jesus replied, 'and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,

KJV: And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

NKJV: So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

The larger passage in which this verse is situated includes a comparison between a rich young ruler and the disciples. The young man is deeply invested in his earthly life. Some of that investment is noble: he is a good person to the people around him; he treats them right. Some of that investment is troublesome. He doesn't understand that to have eternal life in God's kingdom he will have to prioritize Jesus over his earthly goods (Luke 18:18–23).

Peter has pointed out that the disciples have given up their lives. Instead of living in their homes with their families, earning a living at their jobs, they are following Jesus around, listening to Him teach. They have an inkling that in God's kingdom they will not only receive eternal life, but also rewards (Luke 18:28). Jesus affirms that if they have sacrificed their earthly life, they will be recompensed. They will "receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life" (Luke 18:30).

This "leaving" needs to be understood in context. Jesus is not commanding that all who follow Him must abandon our families and responsibilities. Nor does every Christian need to move to a foreign land to be a missionary. Nor is He saying that church and ministry workers should shun family, health, and relationships so they can work themselves to death. God has prepared good works for us (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus specifically called the disciples to make such great sacrifices (Luke 6:12–16). He will call some of us, too, but not everyone. There is plenty of work that must be done and that can be done while still caring for one's family. In fact, often caring for our families and ministering to others in our cultural context is the call. Wherever we are and whatever we do, we should be doing it for God's glory (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 7:17–24; Ephesians 5:21—6:9; 1 Peter 3:13–17).

Luke 18:28–30 is a moment of commendation for the disciples. A rich man walks away from Jesus because he overvalues his wealth and can't submit to Jesus. The disciples point out they have left everything, and Jesus promises them rewards in eternity. However, they can't understand what Jesus will face despite having been told several times (Luke 18:31–34). Meanwhile, a blind beggar sees who Jesus is (Luke 18:35–43). This account is also in Mark 10:28–30 and Matthew 19:27–29; Matthew adds that the disciples will sit on twelve thrones and judge Israel.

Luke continues to arrange Jesus' teachings by their topic. Here, he includes two parables: the persistent widow and the Pharisee and the tax collector. Jesus encourages children to approach Him. He interacts with a moral, wealthy man who can't bear to follow Jesus if it means giving up wealth. After another prediction of His death, Jesus encounters and heals a blind man on His way to Jerusalem.

Luke 18 approaches the end of Jesus' "travelogue" to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51—19:27). Luke has selected miracles, teachings, and events to show how Jesus trained His disciples. His emphasis was explaining the kingdom of God in preparation for their work to build the church. Luke 18 includes several contrasts between those who understand God's kingdom and those who don't. Luke 19 includes the story of Zacchaeus and another parable before Jesus' triumphal entry and the Passion Week. These stories are also found primarily in Matthew 19—20 and Mark 10.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.