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[AlphaT]

"Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

What are these twelve thrones? Does this refer to the disciples?

[jimwalton]

Great question. It's a tough text, but there is common agreement about its meaning. The thrust of the whole chapter is what seems to be impossible requirements, the disciples' questions of confusion, and Jesus explaining his answers. It always helps to understand the context. Let's look at the flow before we get to the specifics:

Matt. 19.1-12. Jesus is quizzed about marriage and divorce, and Jesus gives an answer that makes marriage binding. The disciples are confused about the strictness and ask, "If this is the situation...it is better not to marry." Jesus answers, "Not everyone can accept this, but only those to whom it has been given. ...The one who can accept it should accept it."

Then Jesus uses children (13-15), as an example of humility, to symbolize godliness, as if to say, "Those who discern their own emptiness and inadequacy and who come to God empty-handed will find themselves able to accept the kingdom."

At this point Matthew places the approach of the rich young ruler (16-22) as an example of someone who is the converse of the child (13-15). This man is full of his own worthiness, but Jesus says the man has to come to God empty-handed to accept the kingdom. The man walks away sad. The disciples are confused about the strictness of this and ask, "If this is the situation, who then can be saved?" Jesus explains "No one can, except by the work of God." (In other words, only to those to whom it has been given.)

Peter blurts out that the disciples have been worthy, but he's confused and asks, "If that's the situation, what then will there be for us?" It expresses the same kind of worldly spirit and misunderstanding of works and grace that we saw in the rich man. They fail to grasp servanthood, humility, and salvation by grace. But their hearts are in a different place than the rich man's (they are more like the small child at heart, but the rich man in their head), so Jesus treats them differently.

1. Those who share in Christ's mission (which the rich man was not doing) will share in Christ's victory.
2. Following Jesus is the key notion, and they have grasped it (contrasting the rich man).
3. They will be rewarded in the age to come appropriate to their service (as mirrors of the small children who came to Jesus).

So that's what the text is all about. Now on to your specific questions. What are the 12 thrones? The 12 apostles, distinct from the rest of us Christians, will have a part in judging the people of God. They were, after all, witnesses to his resurrection and the first proclaimers of the Gospel. The disciples, knowing they communicated the truth of the risen Lord and salvation through him not only to their generation but to all subsequent generations, will be a position to sit in judgment, by the side of Christ himself, to judge God's people.

That is their place in the age to come, but v. 29 assures us that all of us who have followed Christ will receive enormous and disproportionate rewards for being a good and faithful servant.

But there will be many surprises (30). Be more like the child than the rich man: beware of self-confident pride.

> Does this refer to the disciples?

The apostles in particular will sit on the 12 thrones. See also Lk. 22.28 and Rev. 21.14.