And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

MATTHEW 19:29KJV
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Matthew 19:29 (KJV)

What does Matthew 19:29 mean?

Matthew 19:29 promises that anyone who gives up family, home, or land for Jesus’ sake will receive a much greater reward and will inherit eternal life. The verse highlights the cost of following Jesus and reassures that such sacrifices are not forgotten but are repaid abundantly.

Jesus is speaking to His disciples after a conversation about wealth and entering the kingdom of heaven. The disciples had just asked what reward they would receive for leaving everything to follow Him. Jesus responds by listing specific sacrifices—family, property, relationships—and assures them that these losses, made for His name, will be rewarded a hundredfold, along with everlasting life.

The Greek behind Matthew 19:29

  • ἐκατονταπλασίονα (hekatontaplasiona, "hundredfold"): This word means "a hundred times as much." It emphasizes the extraordinary generosity of the reward compared to what was given up.
  • ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός μου (heneken tou onomatos mou, "for my name's sake"): This phrase means "because of me" or "on account of my name." It stresses that the sacrifices mentioned are meaningful only when made out of loyalty to Jesus.
  • κληρονομήσει (klēronomēsei, "shall inherit"): This word means "to receive as an inheritance." It suggests that eternal life is not just a reward but a lasting possession given to those who follow Jesus.

Why Matthew 19:29 matters

  • Matthew 19:29 clarifies that following Jesus may require real, personal sacrifices, but these are not overlooked by God.
  • The verse shifts the focus from earthly loss to heavenly gain, assuring believers that what is given up for Jesus is repaid far beyond what is lost.
  • This promise connects to the wider passage about the difficulty of entering the kingdom and reassures the disciples—and readers—that true commitment to Jesus leads to lasting reward.

Where else these words appear

“hundredfold” Greek G1542 · used in 3 verses

  • Mark 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
  • Luke 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

“inherit” Greek G2816 · used in 17 verses

  • Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
  • Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

“sake” Greek G1752 · used in 23 verses

  • Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Mark 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
  • Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

“sisters” Greek G79 · used in 24 verses

  • Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
  • Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
  • Acts 23:16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.