30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time,.... Not more houses, parents, brethren, &c. but that which is abundantly preferable to them; such comfort, peace, satisfaction, and pleasure, as are not to be found in such enjoyments:
and in the world to come life everlasting; which was what the young man was desirous of inheriting, Luke 18:18.
manifold more in this present time--in Matthew (Matthew 19:29) "an hundredfold," to which Mark (Mark 10:30) gives this most interesting addition, "Now in this present time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions." We have here the blessed promise of a reconstruction of all human relationships and affections on a Christian basis and in a Christian state, after being sacrificed, in their natural form, on the altar of love to Christ. This He calls "manifold more"--"an hundredfold more"--than what they sacrificed. Our Lord was Himself the first to exemplify this new adjustment of His own relationships. (See on Matthew 12:49-50; and 2-Corinthians 6:14-18.) But this "with persecutions"; for how could such a transfer take place without the most cruel wrenches to flesh and blood? but the persecution would haply follow them into their new and higher circle, breaking that up too! But best of all, "in the world to come life everlasting." And
When the shore is won at last
Who will count the billows past?
KEBLE
These promises are for every one who forsakes his all for Christ. But in Matthew (Matthew 19:28) this is prefaced by a special promise to the Twelve: "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me in the Regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Ye who have now adhered to Me shall, in the new kingdom, rule, or give law to, the great Christian world, here set forth in Jewish dress as the twelve tribes, presided over by the twelve apostles on so many judicial thrones. In this sense certainly the promise has been illustriously fulfilled [CALVIN, GROTIUS, LIGHTFOOT, &c.]. But if the promise refers to the yet future glory (as may be thought from Luke 22:28-30, and as most take it), it points to the highest personal distinction of the first founders of the Christian Church.
*More commentary available at chapter level.