Luke 22:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Savior removes the affliction of pride from the holy apostles, yet they may have conversed among themselves, questioning, “What will be the reward for our faithfulness? What benefit will those receive who have toiled in His service when faced with temptation?” To encourage them to cast off all lethargy in their pursuit of virtue and to wholeheartedly commit to following Him, rejoicing in labor for His sake, viewing it as advantageous, a pathway to joy, and a source of everlasting glory, He assures them: “Ye are they that have remained with Me in My temptations...”

“I bestow upon you a kingdom” conveys the meaning of “I assure you.” This kingdom refers to the heavenly realm, which rekindles within them the hope that brings peace and endurance.

The Lord continued, saying, "You have remained by My side through all My trials, staying loyal despite the slander and persecution from My adversaries. In return, I now grant you a kingdom, just as My Father has given Me, so that you may partake in the feast of My kingdom and take your places on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." With these words, He aimed to convey to the disciples the abundant reward that awaited them. At this profound promise, the gaze of the God-man turned toward Judas, causing His generous lips to fall silent.

The Lord, while rejecting the aspirations for worldly authority among His disciples, also bestows upon them the recognition their efforts merit. They faced numerous trials, insults, and harsh grievances, some directed at the Master Himself and others coming from the Pharisees and scribes. Despite this, they chose to remain faithful, while ‘many of the rulers, though they believed in Him, did not confess Him to the Pharisees and Sadducees’ (John 12:42). The austere nature of the Master’s existence (Matt. 8:20; Luke 9:59), the strictness of His teachings (Luke 14:33; Luke 18:25; Matt. 19:9-10), and the profoundness of His revelations (John 6:67) did not drive them away. All of this showcases the depth of their steadfast love.

The anticipation of the impending revelation of the kingdom reignited the restless aspirations of the disciples, leading to renewed debates among them regarding who among them held the greatest status. The Lord reminded them of His teachings concerning the distinction between His kingdom and the earthly kingdoms.

As recorded by Luke, Jesus Christ's teachings on humility were linked to a subtle response to the disciples' contention over their ranking. He addressed their concerns regarding prominence by promising that, for their unwavering commitment to Him amidst persecution, they would inherit joy in His kingdom, stating, "that ye may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom." Additionally, He indicated that they would hold esteemed positions of happiness in that kingdom, being particularly close to the Lord-King, assuring them that "He shall sit on the throne to judge the twelve tribes of Israel." The author of the Gospel of John emphasizes that Jesus qualified this promise by stating that only those who were divinely chosen for salvation would experience the fulfillment of this assurance.

If you follow my guidance, you will receive blessings. You have remained loyal to me despite the challenges posed by my adversaries; you have not turned away from me even when many of my followers abandoned me. For this reason, I grant you my kingdom and will guide you into the Kingdom of Heaven, where you will experience the profound honor of being in my presence.

"Yet you remain with Me": Despite human frailty, as demonstrated by the disciples' quarrels over rank, the Lord extends to them the most profound promises, recognizing their significant role as Apostles and the remarkable deeds they had already accomplished for the Savior's mission. - "In My trials" (literally in temptations - πειρασοις, cf. Luke 4:1 and parallels). This expression, spoken by the Lord Himself, encompasses all the temptations and challenges He faced during His earthly ministry from the schemes of the tempter's spirit and all those influenced by him. After being vanquished by the Lord on the mount of temptation at the outset of His ministry, the tempter departed from Him “for a time” and not permanently (Luke 4:13).

During those significant moments when Christ the Redeemer was forecasting the events to come, His disciples once more focused on the topic of leadership, a matter that had troubled them on numerous occasions before (Matthew 18:1; 20:21). They debated among themselves regarding who should be regarded as the greatest. In an effort to soothe their anxious hearts, the Lord not only reiterated the lesson on humility He had previously imparted (20:25-27), but also disclosed that true greatness and glory awaited them for their steadfastness—not in this earthly realm, but in the Kingdom of Heaven. While worldly rulers are said to dominate their subjects, and those who wield authority are termed benefactors, He instructed them to embrace a role of servitude.