Kingdom Rewards

Elvis Presley was generous to his friends. Notably, he gave Jerry, Ron, and Gerard — his longtime friends — Lincoln and Cadillac luxury cars. According to the South China Morning Post, one day, he gave away 32 Cadillacs to friends, acquaintances, and strangers. Similarly, the former sultan of Oman drove around his country, tossing golden coins to people. Celebrities, presidents, and royalties often bestow gifts on their friends. This practice dates to the times of the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks.

The Lord Jesus, a Davidic king, planned to bestow gifts to his apostles. He said to them,

“You stood with me in my trials. Therefore, just as my Father made a covenant (diathithimi) to give me a kingdom, I make a covenant (diathithimi) with you: You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit upon the thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:28–30).

Cutting a covenant (in Hebrew karat berit) was a significant event in the lives of the Hebrews. It usually involved sacrificial animals cut into two halves, signifying that if the covenant makers didn’t keep their promises, they would be cut into two halves, just like the sacrificial animals. God made such a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:17, implying that he would face death if he didn’t keep his promises to Abraham. The Greek word for “covenant,” diathithimi, captures this meaning by combining the preposition dia “through” and the verb thithimi, “to put, set, place” = “put through” or “a knife/sword put through.”

The Lord Jesus told the disciples of two covenants. First, God had made a covenant with Jesus to give him a kingdom. Several OT prophesies affirm this. For example,

God said to David, “When your days are over, and you rest with your ancestors [i.e., die], I will raise your offspring to succeed you . . . and establish his kingdom.” (2 Sam 7:12)

“YHWH said to Adonai: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies footstools for your feet. I will stretch your mighty scepter [a symbol of kingly rule] from Zion over all your enemies.’” (Ps 110:1–2)

God, who promised a kingdom to Jesus, the Davidic king, would fulfill it. When he did, the second covenant would be fulfilled. It was the covenant Jesus made with his apostles, the twelve disciples.

“I make a covenant (diathithimi) with you: You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit upon the thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:29–30)

Ancient kings showed their wealth and hospitality through lavish celebrations. King Solomon, for example, had a seven-day-and-night festival with the entire country during the temple’s dedication (1 Kings 8:65). King Jesus, too, would have a great party at his coronation. At that time, the twelve disciples would join him at his table, eat and drink, and later join him in the judgment room and sit on judgment seats to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

Some scholars consider this yet to happen when the Lord returns at his second coming. Others see this has already happened at his resurrection, the victory over death. Whatever the case, the twelve apostles would join him in his coronation and become judges of the twelve tribes of Israel, all because they stood with him at his trials! We think they scattered and hid. But the Lord Jesus said they stood by him.

Like them, we must stand by him through good and challenging times. That’s how we experience the blessings of his rule.