For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matthew 16: 27 (NIV)
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 16: 27 (ESV)
Scripture: Matthew 16: 21-28
The meaning of verses can change depending on which translation we are reading. However, translations that said Jesus will reward and repay each person are both correct. This devotion looks at what Jesus will be presenting people at judgment — rewards or repayments.
Cliff Notes
- A reward is a recognition for an achievement.
- Repayment can mean something inflicted in response to a negative condition.
- Jesus, when judging people at the end of the age, will distribute rewards and repayments.
- We must watch for His return to be rewarded.
I am doing a study in the Lord’s Prayer. I told you that I use BibleHub to find multiple translations of the verses.
To read What Can We Learn from the Road Trip to Emmaus?, click the button below.
Sometimes, the translations can say the same thing. Other times, one chooses to leave an important piece of information out. Once in a while, a version says something totally different.
Case in point — Matthew 16: 27. Really, other than shuffling words around, the verses almost say the same thing.
Almost. It is one word that is different. But to my way of thinking, that distinction is huge.
One says “reward” (NIV) while the other one says “repay” (ESV). To me, that is like polar opposites.
Reward
Let’s think about rewards a second. A reward is something you get as a recognition for something.
All through public school, Adam had a rewards system. He was given something in response to his good behavior. That was supposed to make him want to keep doing what was good so that he could keep getting good stuff.
When we read the verse in the New International Version, it sounds like Jesus will be looking for those who have asked Him to be their Savior. He will reward those who have been striving to follow His example.
To read What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?, click the button below.
Repay
Even though one dictionary definition says to repay is to reward something, don’t we usually thing of it as compensation or a refund? One definition, though, said it is to give or inflict in return.
That has more of a negative connotation. It makes it sound like someone did something bad to you, so you are going to do something bad back.
That would be more like Adam was put in time out when he did something bad. That has been a prevailing form of behavior modification. That was supposed to make Adam want to quit doing what was bad so that he wouldn’t keep getting bad stuff happen to him.
When we read the English Standard Version, that is the impression we get. We better watch out, because Jesus is going to come and get us if we aren’t on His side.
What Does This Mean?
Well, what it means depends on which side of the fence you are sitting on at the time. Jesus is actually going to do both. “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds” (Mt. 16: 27 NLT). He will be the judge and jury of all.
Let’s take a look at Revelation. Now, I don’t even pretend to have Revelation all figured out. I know there is no way no one is ever going to totally figure it out because no one knows the when or the how but God (Mt. 24: 36). But we each form our own opinions.
Jesus will be the only one deemed worthy to open the scroll. “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth” (Rev. 5: 9-10 NLT). He breaks the seals, and all sorts of things happen on earth (Rev. 6-9). Somewhere in there, the trumpets start (Rev. 8-11). There are dragons and beasts on scene (Rev. 12-13).
The action really picks up in Revelation 14. This is when Jesus grabs a cloud and a sickle and heads to earth (Rev. 14: 14-16). There are several references of Jesus coming on the clouds (Mt. 26: 64; Ac. 1: 9; Rev. 1: 7). That is when the earth will be harvested — I read that as believers get the call home.
After the tribulations, Jesus will come again. “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war” (Rev. 19: 11 NLT). He defeats Satan and his demons and imprisons them for one thousand years (Rev. 20). The rest of the dead get resurrected after that period is over (Rev. 20: 5).
That is when I see the reward/repayment taking place. “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20: 11-15 NLT).
That is when I think Matthew 25: 31-46 will play out. That is the sheep/goats division. That is the reward/repayment ceremony.
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How Do We Apply This?
We apply this by deciding if we want a reward or a repayment. It is our decision. If we don’t make a decision and Jesus returns, our decision has been made.
No, we don’t know when Jesus is coming again. Matthew 24: 43; I Thessalonians 5: 2; I Thessalonians 5: 4; II Peter 3: 10; and Revelation 16: 15 all say He is coming as a thief in the night.
Jesus said, “… Blessed are all who are watching for me …” (Rev. 16: 15 NLT). And He does charge us to watch for Him. (“Watch” could probably be a whole devotion on its own.)
Warnings were issued for those who think they have lots of time to set everything right before Jesus’ return. “But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt. 24: 48-51 NLT).
But let’s just wrap up this devotion saying a decision will be required of each of us. That decision will have to be made before the trumpet sounds. Then Jesus will reward or repay us accordingly. So, it is up to you to decide if you want to be a sheep with a reward or a goat with a repayment. Choose wisely.
Sovereign God. When Adam and Eve committed the original sin, You in Your mercy offered Your Son Jesus as a sacrifice. You have delayed Jesus’ second coming until all who will believe in You has made that decision. Lord, we pray that, if there are those still out there that haven’t made that decision, You send Your workers — even us — to encourage them to do so. Father, we watch the skies for Jesus’ return. May He finds us watching and praying. Amen.
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
What do you think? Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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