Verse 28
But ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations; and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This promise refers to earth and this life ... His kingdom would be administered by them ... For centuries, the story of civilization has been the story of this kingdom.[16]
At my table in my kingdom ... This identifies the church, wherein the Lord's Table is ever found, to be the kingdom in view here. That man who is not eating and drinking at the Lord's Table is not in the kingdom of God.
Twelve thrones ... These are to be understood spiritually, as are the "twelve tribes of Israel." This refers to the word of the holy apostles as the supreme authority in the Lord's church. Also, it should be noted that death would not remove them from office, no successors to the Twelve being envisioned by the Lord. See the comments in my Commentary on Matthew, Matthew 19:28. Luke did not mention "twelve" thrones, but Matthew did (Matthew 19:28). "These expressions are applicable primarily to the Twelve apostles."[17]
My kingdom ... As Bliss said, "This is the only instance in which Jesus calls the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven `my kingdom'." The kingdom of God is the kingdom of Christ.
[16] H. D. M. Spence, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1952), Vol. 16, Luke, p. 200.
[17] John Wesley, op. cit., p. 287.
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