Luke 18:28
in Luke 18“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Peter said, Lo, we have left our own, and followed thee.
KJV
Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
⋯
This verse in Luke 18
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThe rich man who has despised many things will naturally expect a reward, but he who possessing little resigns what he has, may fairly ask what there is in store for him; as it follows, Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all. Matthew adds, What shall we have therefore? (Matt. 19:27.)
This site's exposition
we have left all we had
on Luke 18:28-30
Peter sets the disciples' record against the ruler who could not follow: we have left all we had to follow You. Jesus promises many times more in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
It says, "Peter said to him, 'Look, we have left all and followed you.' " …I imagine, to this some may reply, "What had the disciples given up? They were men who gained the necessities of life by their sweat and labor, being by trade fishermen, who perhaps owned a boat and nets somewhere. They did not have well-built houses or any other possessions. What did they leave, or for what did they ask a reward from Christ?" What is our answer to this? For this very reason, they made this most necessary inquiry. Since they possessed nothing except what was trifling and of slight value, they would learn how God will reward and gladden with his gifts those who likewise have left but little for the sake of the kingdom of God. They desired to be counted worthy of the kingdom of heaven because of their love for him. The rich man, one who has disregarded much, will confidently expect a reward. He who possessed little and abandoned it, how was it not right to ask what hopes he might entertain? For this reason, as representing those in the same condition of their having left little, they say, "Behold, we have left all and followed you." It is further necessary to observe also this. Correctly considered, the pain of abandoning is the same whether one abandons much or little. Come and let us see the real meaning of the matter by a trivial example. Suppose two men had to stand naked. The one took off expensive clothes while the other put off only what was cheap and easy to get. Would not the pain of the nakedness be equal in both cases? What possible doubt can there be on this point? As far as regards obedience and good will, those who had different circumstances and yet practiced equal readiness and willingly sold what they had must be placed on an equal footing with the rich. The very wise Paul also takes up their cause. […]
The Medieval Church4 voices
But Peter said. After he commended poverty through its perfection in merit and through its imperfection in the contrary, here thirdly he shows it commendable on account of its consummation in reward. Concerning the description of this, the procedure follows this order. For here the …
But Peter said: Behold, we have left everything and followed you. Great confidence. Peter was a fisherman, he was not rich, he sought food by hand and skill, and yet he speaks confidently, We have left everything. And because it is not enough to just …
As if he says, We have done what Thou commandedst us, what reward then wilt Thou give us? And because it is not enough to have left all things, he adds that which made it perfect, saying, And have followed thee.
At this, Peter asks: "behold, we have left everything," and he asks not for himself alone, but for the consolation of all the poor. Lest only the rich have good hopes of receiving much, as those who renounced much, while the poor have no hope, …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Whatever we have left, or laid out, for Christ, it shall without fail be abundantly made up to us in this world and that to come, notwithstanding our weaknesses and infirmities (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Then Peter said,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
The promise before us is a very particular one. It does not refer to the believer's reward in the eternal world, and the unfading crown of glory. It refers distinctly to the life that now is. It is spoken of "this present time." The "many times as much" of the promise must evidently be taken in a spiritual sense. The meaning is, that the believer shall find in Christ — a full equivalent for anything that he is obliged to give up for Christ's sake.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Lo, &c.--in the simplicity of his heart (as is evident from the reply), conscious that the required surrender had been made, and generously taking in his brethren with him--"we"; not in the spirit of the young ruler. "All these have I kept," etc. left all--"The workmen's little is as much his 'all' as the prince's much" [BENGEL].
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The promise before us is a very particular one. It does not refer to the believer's reward in the eternal world, and the unfading crown of glory. It refers distinctly to the life that now is. It is spoken of "this present time." The "many times as much" of the promise must evidently be taken in a spiritual sense. The meaning is, that the believer shall find in Christ — a full equivalent for anything that he is obliged to give up for Christ's sake. He shall find such peace, and hope, and joy, and comfort, and rest — in communion with the Father and the Son — that his earthly losses shall be more than counter-balanced by his spiritual gains. In short, the Lord Jesus Christ shall be more to him — than property, or relatives, or friends. The complete fulfillment of this wonderful promise has been often seen in the experience of God's saints. Hundreds could testify in every age of the church, that when they were obliged to give up everything for the kingdom of God's sake — their earthly losses were amply supplied by Christ's grace. They were kept in perfect peace, staying their souls on Jesus. They were enabled to glory in tribulation, and to take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in distresses — for Christ's sake (Romans 5:3, 2 Corinthians 12:10.) They were enabled in the darkest hour — to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; and to count it an honor to suffer shame for their Master's name. (1 Peter 1:8, Acts 5:41.) The last day will show that in poverty and in exile — in prisons and before tribunals — in the fire and under the sword — the words of Christ before us have repeatedly been made good. Friends have often proved faithless. Great promises have often been broken. Riches have made themselves wings. But Christ's engagements have never been known to fail. Let us grasp this promise firmly.
We have left all - Our trades, our houses, and families. The reader is desired to consult the notes on Mat 4:20 (note); Mat 19:27 (note), etc.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Εἶπεν | eipen | Said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Πέτρος· | petros | Peter; | G4074 → | 155 times |
| ἰδοὺ | idou | Behold | G2400 → | 200 times |
| ἡμεῖς | hemeis | we ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἀφέντες | aphentes | having abandoned | G863 → | 143 times |
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἴδια | idia | [our] own [things] | G2398 → | 114 times |
| ἠκολουθήσαμέν | ekolouthesamen | followed | G190 → | 90 times |
| σοι.¶ | soi | You. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ΕἶπενSaid
eipenG2036 →925 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
Πέτρος·Peter;
petrosG4074 →155 times
ἰδοὺBehold
idouG2400 →200 times
ἡμεῖςwe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
ἀφέντεςhaving abandoned
aphentesG863 →143 times
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
ἴδια[our] own [things]
idiaG2398 →114 times
ἠκολουθήσαμένfollowed
ekolouthesamenG190 →90 times
σοι.¶You.
soiG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 3:7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
it leads to
- Luke 14:33
In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Matthew 13:44–46
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that…
- Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
- Proverbs 13:8
Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
- Luke 14:33
Through
Mark 10:28Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”
it leads to
- Luke 18:28–30
“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 19:27–30
“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”
- Luke 18:28–30
Through
Matthew 19:27“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”
it leads to
- Philippians 3:8
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may…
- Philippians 3:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Luke
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 18; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 124; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke.