28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. (Mark 10:28-31 KJV)
We left everything to follow you
This event immediately followed Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler: after the rich young ruler left and Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”, Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” (Mark 10:28). Jesus assured them their sacrifice would be richly rewarded—not just Peter, but anyone who gives up much for Christ’s sake.
The cost of following Christ is real. He mentions giving up houses and land, which people rely on for shelter and survival. Many believers have done just that for the sake of the gospel. He also mentions giving up family—parents, siblings, even spouses and children. These are life’s dearest relationships. Yet, if choosing Christ means giving them up, we must be willing. It’s easier to give up sinful habits, which we already resist, than to let go of people we are bound to love. But Christ must come first.
The gain of following Christ will be great. They shall receive a hundredfold in this life—houses, brothers, and sisters—not necessarily in kind, but in what is equivalent. They will have an abundance of comfort in this life to make up for all their losses. Their relationship with Christ, fellowship with other believers, and hope of eternal life will be to them as brothers, sisters, and homes. God’s providence gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10), but suffering Christians will receive a hundredfold in the comfort of the Holy Spirit added to their earthly blessings. Mark adds, “with persecutions” (Mark 10:30).
Even when they gain through Christ, they must still expect to suffer for Him, and they will not be beyond persecution until they reach heaven. In fact, persecution seems to be part of what they receive in this present life, for “it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for His name” (Philippians 1:29). Yet this is not all.
They will have eternal life in the world to come. If they receive a hundredfold in this life, one might think they shouldn’t expect anything more. But as if that were a small thing, they will also receive eternal life—far more than ten thousandfold, far beyond measure, for all they have lost. Yet because they spoke so much, more than was fitting, about leaving everything for Christ, He tells them that though they were called first, others who come after them may be placed before them. For example, Paul, though called later, worked harder than all the other apostles (1 Corinthians 15:10). So the first became last, and the last first.