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Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Matthew 19:27 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?”
  • BSB “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”
  • NKJV Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”
  • NASB Then Peter responded and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”
  • NLT Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Peter notes that the disciples have left everything to follow Jesus and asks what they will receive. His question reflects both genuine sacrifice and a lingering concern for reward.

Overview

In contrast to the rich man who clung to his possessions, the disciples have forsaken all to follow Christ. Peter's question, though mingled with self-interest, gives Jesus an occasion to teach about the certain rewards of discipleship. Jesus does not rebuke the desire for reward but reorders it around grace and faithful service.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 15

  • Phil 3:8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
  • Luke 18:28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
  • Luke 5:11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
  • Mark 1:17–20And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
  • Luke 15:29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
  • Matt 9:9And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
  • Mark 10:28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
  • Mark 2:14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
  • Luke 5:27–28And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
  • Matt 4:20–22And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
  • Deut 33:9Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
  • Luke 14:33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
  • 1 Cor 1:29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
  • Matt 20:10–12But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
  • 1 Cor 4:7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Matthew videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Matthew 19:27YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MatthewMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'

How Matthew 19:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.