Matthew 19:27 Commentary: Peter's Question of Faith and Reward

Matthew 19:27 is set in Perea, during Jesus' final journey toward Jerusalem. Moments earlier, a rich young man approached Jesus asking what good deed he must do to have eternal life (Matt 19:16). When Jesus told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and come follow him, he 'went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions' (v.22). Jesus then drops a bombshell: the wealthy enter the kingdom with difficulty, easier for a camel through a needle's eye (vv.23-24). The disciples are 'exceedingly astonished' and ask, 'Who then can be saved?' (v.25). Jesus answers that salvation is possible because 'with God all things are possible' (v.26).

Peter now speaks. He speaks for the group, and the Greek makes their 'we' stand out (ἡμεῖς, placed first in the clause). For three years they have walked away from fishing nets, tax booths, and family ties (Matt 4:20,22; 9:9). Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their father Zebedee and hired servants (Mark 1:20). It was not a comfortable existence: 'foxes have holes, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head' (Matt 8:20). In Jewish piety, sacrifice for God was supposed to bring reward, Proverbs 11:18 promises that the one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. Peter's question reflects this expectation as much as any selfish motive. The word 'then' (ἄρα) signals a conclusion: if the rich man could not gain the kingdom by his wealth, what about those who gave up everything? Jesus' answer (v.28) uses the term 'regeneration' (παλιγγενεσία), a Jewish concept for the world to come when God renews all things, confirming that the reward is both present and eschatological.

The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The synoptic parallels (Mark 10:28-31; Luke 18:28-30) report Peter's statement without the explicit question 'What then will we have?' In Mark and Luke, Peter simply says 'We have left everything and followed you,' and Jesus replies with the promise of hundredfold and eternal life. Matthew's addition of the question underscores the disciples' expectation of reward and provides the context for the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matt 20:1-16).

This verse has been central to Christian reflection on voluntary poverty and the motive for discipleship. In the early church, it was read alongside Jesus' call to take up the cross and used to encourage martyrs and ascetics who renounced possessions for the sake of the gospel. Monastic communities often cited it as a foundation text for the vow of poverty. During the Reformation, commentators like Calvin and Luther used the verse to critique the idea of earning merit by works; they stressed that the reward is a gift of God's grace, not a wage earned by human effort. In modern pastoral practice, Matthew 19:27 is frequently preached to believers who have made costly decisions to follow Christ in contexts where family, career, or social status are lost. The question 'What then will we have?' continues to be a voice for every disciple who needs assurance that their sacrifice is seen and will be repaid by a faithful God.

Three‑point outline

1. What we left, Peter's claim 'we have left everything' (ἀφήκαμεν πάντα). It sounds boastful until we remember it was a handful of fishing nets and a tax collector's stool. Yet it was their whole livelihood and identity. The point is not the quantity of the sacrifice but its sincerity.
2. Why we ask, 'What then will we have?' Peter's question is not inherently wrong; Scripture everywhere promises reward for righteousness (Deut 33:9; Matt 6:4). The danger is in making the calculation the center of discipleship.
3. What we will receive, Jesus promises the Twelve thrones in the regeneration (v.28) and a hundredfold reward plus eternal life for every person who sacrifices for his name (v.29). The answer turns calculation into confidence.

Five‑point outline

1. The catalyst: the rich young ruler's refusal (vv.22-24).
2. The crisis: the disciples' astonishment and question about salvation (v.25).
3. The claim: Peter's contrast, 'we have left all' (v.27a).
4. The question: 'What then will we have?' (v.27b).
5. The promise: Jesus' full response, thrones, hundredfold, eternal life, with a caution about first and last (vv.28-30).

Illustration hooks

• A person who gives up a lucrative career to care for an aging parent, wondering if their sacrifice matters.
• A child who shares her only toy at playground and then asks the parent, 'Did I do good?' She wants both affirmation and a hug, not a contract.
• An investor sells a promising stock to help a friend in crisis, then wonders whether the loss will ever be 'made up.'

Questions your congregation is asking

• Is it selfish to serve God because I want a reward?
• What does it mean to 'leave all' in a modern, non‑monastic life?
• Why does Jesus say the first will be last right after promising great reward, what does the warning add?

Peter's question sits at an awkward intersection of faith and calculation. No one wants to admit they serve God for what they can get, yet the Bible is full of promises about rewards. This passage gives us permission to bring honest questions to Jesus, the same Jesus who answers without shaming Peter.

Discussion questions

1. Read Matthew 19:16-27. What in the conversation with the rich young man leads Peter to speak up?
2. Look at the Greek emphasis on 'we' (ἡμεῖς). Why does Peter draw this contrast? What does it reveal about his mindset?
3. The Cambridge Bible calls this a 'lower motive.' But Jesus doesn't rebuke Peter; he gives a detailed answer. What does Jesus' response suggest about the legitimacy of the question?
4. How do the promises in verses 28-29, thrones, hundredfold, eternal life, answer both the letter and the spirit of Peter's question?
5. Verse 30 says 'many who are first will be last.' How does this reorient how we think about reward?
6. In what areas of your life do you find yourself calculating 'what will I get' for serving Christ? Is that always wrong?
7. How does this passage encourage people who have made real sacrifices for their faith, especially in communities where Christians suffer loss?