Luke 18:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

NIV: will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.'

NASB: who will not receive many times as much at this time, and in the age to come, eternal life.'

CSB: who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come."

NLT: will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.'

KJV: Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

NKJV: who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

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).

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.