Matthew 19:28

And Iesus said vnto them, Uerily I say vnto you, that ye which haue followed me, in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shal sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shal sit vpon twelue thrones, iudging the twelue tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28 (KJV)

And Jesus said unto them,

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 upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28 (KJV)

Matthew 19:28 is spoken in a conversation between Jesus and His disciples. Earlier in the chapter Jesus had spoken with a rich young man who asked about eternal life and was told to sell his possessions and follow Him. That encounter led Jesus to teach about the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Afterward Peter asked Jesus what reward awaited those who had left everything to follow Him.

The introductory phrase “Verily I say unto you” is a common formula Jesus uses to stress the absolute truth and importance of what He is about to declare. It signals that the following promise is trustworthy and significant.

When Jesus says “That ye which have followed me,” He is addressing His faithful disciples, emphasizing those who have committed themselves to Him and have given up worldly attachments in order to follow His teaching.

The term “in the regeneration” points to the future renewal or restoration of all things. It denotes the coming time when the earth and humanity will be restored to a perfect state, often understood as the advent of the Kingdom of God on earth.

“when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory” refers to the future exaltation of Christ. It describes the moment when Jesus, as the Son of Man, will be seated on His glorious throne, symbolizing His supreme reign and authority over all creation.

Jesus then promises, “ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones.” The promise indicates that the disciples will share in His authority and reign. The number twelve evokes the twelve tribes of Israel, representing completeness and the restoration of God’s people.

Finally, “judging the twelve tribes of Israel” conveys that the disciples will have a role in governing and administering justice over the restored Israel. They will be entrusted with positions of authority to rule over God’s people in the renewed age.

Overall, Matthew 19:28 highlights the future rewards and positions of authority that Jesus promises to His faithful followers. It underscores their sacrifice, their commitment to follow Him, and their anticipated participation in the glorious reign of Christ during the regeneration and the coming Kingdom of God.