12/11 Matthew 16:27

²⁷ 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.

The justice of God not only demands punishment for wickedness, but reward for godly actions. We should do what is good without any expectation or motivation of reward. Good is its own reward. However, God promises multiple times in both the Old and New Testaments that He will repay each person according to his or her deeds.

If we were to only read this passage, it would sound as if salvation is based on works. That would be an incomplete understanding of Scripture and our condition. The only way we can ever even begin to do what is truly good is by receiving the grace of God by faith. Then by faith we let Him work through us what is truly good. Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5), that is, nothing that is truly good.

Why would God repay us for the work He does through us? Think of a father rewarding his child for a chore that the father helped the child do. The child should do the chore because of all that he has received from the father. The father even shows the child how to do it and helps them learn to do it right, yet the father blesses the child with an allowance. He is teaching the child what is good and how to go about it and rewarding the child for learning. Yes, we really are that needy and that blessed! (John 1:12)

Consider: Humbly realize how needy you are and how blessed you are to have such a gracious heavenly Father. You can lay up treasure in heaven!