Q: In Matthew 19:29, Jesus says that if you abandon your wife and children for Jesus, he will give you a big reward. Doesnt this go against the family values typically promoted by the church?
A: I can see how it may initially seem to do so. However, the context ought to be taken into consideration. Peter, two verses previously, told Jesus that the apostles had left all and followed You. Had Peter and the other disciples abandoned their families? No, at least not permanently (though those who had families probably left their families in the care of other relatives during Jesus preaching-tours). Jesus seems to be speaking here not of deliberate family-abandoning, but of incidental family-abandoning in scenarios in which one must decide between faithfulness to Christ and faithfulness to family. In other words, istm that persecution-scenarios are in view here: though the consequences of ones perseverance and dedication to Christ may be the seizure of ones property, or divorce from ones spouse, or abandonment by ones children, it is better to endure all these things than to deny the truth. Though the loss may be immense, Jesus promises that those who endure such losses will be compensated abundantly.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: I can see how it may initially seem to do so. However, the context ought to be taken into consideration. Peter, two verses previously, told Jesus that the apostles had left all and followed You. Had Peter and the other disciples abandoned their families? No, at least not permanently (though those who had families probably left their families in the care of other relatives during Jesus preaching-tours). Jesus seems to be speaking here not of deliberate family-abandoning, but of incidental family-abandoning in scenarios in which one must decide between faithfulness to Christ and faithfulness to family. In other words, istm that persecution-scenarios are in view here: though the consequences of ones perseverance and dedication to Christ may be the seizure of ones property, or divorce from ones spouse, or abandonment by ones children, it is better to endure all these things than to deny the truth. Though the loss may be immense, Jesus promises that those who endure such losses will be compensated abundantly.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
