Troublesome Topic: LUKE 22:30

THE JESUS WAY

I have included verses 21 through 30 so you can fully grasp the context of verse 30.

Who is greater? Jesus said the one who serves is greater than the one being served. Jesus went against the thinking of His culture and against the thinking of mankind throughout all time. He flipped the narrative 180 degrees. Greatness comes through serving others. Furthermore, the principles of humility and servanthood are learned through suffering quietly. The disciples were with Him in his trials. They were in the process of learning humility and servanthood by participating in small ways in the sufferings of Jesus. After Pentecost, we see that they understood what Jesus had been teaching and the Holy Spirit helped them live it. None of the apostles used the typical human methods for attaining greatness; none of them relied on human strength, trickery, lies or manipulation to gain influence. They accomplished things the Jesus way, including martyrdom.

Therefore, since they were learning how to follow His methods, Jesus conferred on them a kingdom, a kingship, i.e. authority. He shared some of His authority with them, while expecting them to serve under His authority to accomplish His will, not their own.

IN WHAT WAY WOULD THEY JUDGE THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL?

The obvious way they would judge the twelve tribes of Israel (all the people of God) is this: Based on the fact that they had learned humility and had suffered with Jesus, their lives would serve as measuring rods by which the actions and lives of others may be evaluated. While this is not a competition, and the ultimate standard is the word of God, it is helpful to have human examples to follow. Paul told the Corinthians “Be imitators of me, as I am [an imitator] of Christ” (I Cor 11:1). We need human examples to follow, and we have had many, including the disciples turned apostles. These examples are never perfect in all they did, which makes them an encouragement to us in our imperfections.

Would they also participate in rendering judgement in other ways, such as at the final judgement? It appears that Jesus will be the judge at the final judgment and He won’t need our help. My sense is that the answer to that question should be “No”.

Are there other ways in which we have received the authority of Jesus? Yes, there are. We have been given authority to cast out demons and heal the sick whenever the Holy Spirit communicates to us that it is God’s will. We have authority to preach the Gospel with power and confidence, and without apology.

We have been granted many other things as well, such as the command to convince the world through love, to suffer and even die for Christ’s sake, etc.

But what do these things have to do with judging the twelve tribes of Israel?

I said above that the Greek word for judge focuses on things related to judging. However, the Hebrew understanding of this concept was based on their history and was more expansive than the simple act of judging during a court trial. The concept was expanded to mean “lead”. We have a book of the Bible called judges, i.e. leaders. They sometimes rendered judgment, but they did many other things as well.

Therefore, I think Jesus was saying that they would lead other believers, and that is what they did.

WHAT ABOUT THE PART WHERE JESUS SAID “IN MY KINGDOM”? DOESN’T THAT REFER TO HEAVEN?

The phrase, “In my kingdom” means “under my authority”; the timing is not specified.

Its first completion was after the authority and kingship of Jesus became evident, meaning after Pentecost and then even more after the destruction of the temple in AD 70 leaving Jesus as the only sacrifice for sins. So, it had an “immediate” fulfillment in the lives of the disciples.

But it is also possible that it will have a future fulfilment when we pass from this life to the next. What that will look like is mostly shrouded in mystery. The Bible tells us little to nothing about the use of that authority. Thus, I will not even venture a guess as to what the exercise of authority by followers of Jesus will look like in that era.

MICHAEL HEISER AND THE DISCIPLES AS JUDGES LUKE 22:30

I believe Michael Heiser’s interpretation of Luke 22:30 is wrong because it totally ignores the context of the statement found there. Jesus’ point was that we should be humble servants, like He was while on earth. In fact, this passage is clear that leadership in God’s realm comes to those who are humble. Heiser says that the gods of the council of gods were gods because they were sons of the Creator God and were made in His image, (“imagers” as he calls them) (page 43 of Unseen Realm).

In all of his discussion of “imagers”, Heiser ignores or downplays morality, and only focuses on things like inherited likeness to the Creator and a calling. But if we ignore one’s character or morality, we have ignored the things that Jesus placed the most emphasis on in this passage.