And everyone that hath forsaken houses
Not only the then disciples of Christ, but any other believer in
him, whether at that time, or in any age, that should be called
to quit their habitations, or leave their dearest relations,
friends, and substance: as
brethren or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or
children,
lands, for my name's sake;
or, as in Luke, "for the kingdom of God's sake"; that is, for the
sake of the Gospel, and a profession of it. Not that believing in
Christ, and professing his name, do necessarily require a parting
with all worldly substance, and natural relations, but when these
things stand in competition with Christ, he is to be loved and
preferred before them; and believers are always to be ready to
part with them for his sake, when persecution arises, because of
the word. All these things are to be relinquished, rather than
Christ, and his Gospel; and such who shall be enabled, through
divine grace, to do so,
shall receive an hundred fold:
Mark adds, "now in this time"; and Luke likewise, "in this
present time", in this world; which may be understood either in
spiritual things, the love of God, the presence of Christ, the
comforts of the Holy Ghost, the communion of saints, and the joys
and pleasures felt in the enjoyment of these things, being an
hundred times more and better to them, than all they have left or
lost for Christ's sake; or in temporal things, so in Mark it
seems to be explained, that such shall now receive an hundred
fold,
even houses and brethren, and sisters and mothers, and
children and
lands;
not that they should receive, for the leaving of one house, an
hundred houses; or for forsaking one brother, an hundred brethren
which last indeed might be true, as to a spiritual relation; but
that the small pittance of this world's goods, and the few
friends they should have "with persecutions" along with them, and
amidst them, should be so sweetened to them, with the love and
presence of God, that these should be more and better to them
than an hundred houses, fields, and friends, without them:
and shall inherit everlasting life.
The other evangelists add, "in the world to come", which is
infinitely best of all; for this is an inheritance incorruptible,
undefiled, which fades not away, reserved in the heavens, when
all other inheritances are corruptible, defiled, fading and
perishing; houses fall, relations die, friends fail, and lands
and estates do not continue for ever: they then have the best of
it, who being called, in providence, to quit all terrene
enjoyments for Christ's sake, are favoured with his presence
here, and shall enjoy eternal glory and happiness with him in
another world.