Matthew 16:27 Rewards Based on Works?

There is a lot more to rewards than just eternal life, heaven vs hell.

Paul talks about this as well:

1 Cor 3.12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

"Wood hay and straw" are cheap, abundant and flammable. It is what we can do easily and in our own strength. Gold, silver, precious stones" OTOH are costly, rare and not something we can do on our own. It must be done by the power of the Holy Spirit.

One pastor drew the picture of everyone in an arena at this judgement (which is NOT a judgement for eternal life but for rewards) that in the arena the angels build a house based on my or your life. Then they set fire to it to see what burns up.
That nice oak staircase - burned.
Antique furniture - burned.

But what is made from gold, silver and gem stones remains; and rewards are given based on how much remains. In his next letter, the apostle says what this judgement is for, and names it:

2 Cor 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Whitworth said:

So it has been my understanding that it is through faith alone that we are rewarded with Heaven and eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches us that it is through faith we are saved and by the Grace of God not through works or what we have and haven't done.

Yet here in Matthew 16:27 it's saying Christ will return and reward us based on our works and what we have done.

Can someone help me understand this? Am I missing something here?

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The new perspective on Paul represents a significant shift in the way some scholars, especially Protestant scholars, interpret the writings of the Apostle Paul.

Paul, especially in his Epistle to the Romans, advocates justification through faith in Jesus Christ over justification through works of the Law. In the historic Lutheran and Reformed perspective, known as sola fide, theologians understood Paul as arguing that Christians' good works would not factor into their salvation - only their faith would count. But according to the "new" perspective, Paul was questioning only observances such as circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath laws (these were the 'boundary markers[1] that set the Jews apart from the other nations), not good works in general.

New Perspective on Paul - Wikipedia

The laws Paul argued against following were the Jewish Laws, not God's Laws which are the 10 commandments and the 2 newer commandments Christ gave.

Jewish Laws here: Judaism 101: A List of the 613 Mitzvot (Commandments)

Whitworth said:

So it has been my understanding that it is through faith alone that we are rewarded with Heaven and eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches us that it is through faith we are saved and by the Grace of God not through works or what we have and haven't done.

Yet here in Matthew 16:27 it's saying Christ will return and reward us based on our works and what we have done.

Can someone help me understand this? Am I missing something here?

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Weird, it's almost like there's some step that nobody is talking about where one's works are judged and where one's sin nature is purged. If only there was a teaching about purging the bad from an otherwise righteous, Heaven-bound Christian after his death...

thecolorsblend said:

Weird, it's almost like there's some step that nobody is talking about where one's works are judged and where one's sin nature is purged. If only there was a teaching about purging the bad from an otherwise righteous, Heaven-bound Christian after his death...

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Show us what you are talking about.

Whitworth said:

So it has been my understanding that it is through faith alone that we are rewarded with Heaven and eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches us that it is through faith we are saved and by the Grace of God not through works or what we have and haven't done.

Yet here in Matthew 16:27 it's saying Christ will return and reward us based on our works and what we have done.

Can someone help me understand this? Am I missing something here?

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I suggest you study Rev 2&3 and look at the problems and the rewards to the overcomers. It is a maturity scale and the rewards progress from the lowest being 'access to the tree of life' and progress to the greatest reward of sharing the throne room with a position of authority within the kingdom.

Salvation is a free gift but your level of glory and position within the eternal kingdom are earned by your spiritual growth and sanctification process. Daniel is also clear that your actions earn you your level of glory within the kingdom.

Da 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

So will you be resurrected to shame and everlasting contempt or will you shine with earned glory and rewards within the kingdom?

Salvation is only the beginning of the race. The victors crown goes to those that FINISH the race. That finish isn't heaven, it is spiritual maturity.

Salvation is a free gift. Rewards within the kingdom are EARNED.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Crowns, wealth, status and positions of authority within the heavenly kingdom are based on overcoming error, spiritual maturity and works...

So are you just content to crawl through the heavenly gates in spiritual diapers or being a poor, blind, naked beggar or will you shoot for a position of 'ruler over nations', priest or even a king? Heaven will be a caste society based on merit. It is just getting into the kingdom that is a free gift for those that believe.

Just getting in doesn't mean your worthy to be at the wedding feast of the Lamb. Those without their wedding garments (an earned reward) are cast out into the 'outer darkness' (the furthest from the throne of glory within the kingdom) for being unworthy.

There is also the 30,60 and 100 fold increase of the harvest and the parable of the talons. There will be greater and lesser servants within the kingdom. There are works that are wood, hay and stubble verses silver, gold and precious stones.

There are vessels of earth or wood verses vessels of gold and silver in the Father's house.

2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

So will you be an clay chamber pot or a golden goblet in the Father's house?

DaveW-Ohev said:

2 Cor 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

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I guess few even think about the heavenly whipping post for the bad judged by the Judgement Seat of Christ.

Lu 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

That judgement will be rewards for the overcomers and punishment for the wickedness of those that are saved. Do you think the gossip in your local church that causes all kinds of problems will actually get away with it?

Yeshua is clear that you are better off committing suicide by tying a mill stone about your neck and jumping into the sea then face His judgement for harming the 'little ones'. That isn't just children but also the spiritual immature.

Mt 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

There will be JUDGEMENT at the Judgement Seat of Christ in both rewards and PUNISHMENT.

Yahu_ said:

There will be JUDGEMENT at the Judgement Seat of Christ in both rewards and PUNISHMENT.

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Yahu - it sounds like you are arguing for some kind of purgatory ....

DaveW-Ohev said:

Yahu - it sounds like you are arguing for some kind of purgatory ....

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Nope, not purgatory, just Judgement at the Judgement Seat. Scripture is clear about the rewards aspect of that judgement but few notice the judgments for wrong doing for things like 'false teachers'. There will be an abundance of people guilty of 'false teachings' in the heavenly kingdom. There are plenty posting on this forum. You are better off remaining silent then to teach a false doctrine. Things like that have eternal consequences and Im not talking about people that are cast into the lake of fire.

DaveW-Ohev said:

Yahu - it sounds like you are arguing for some kind of purgatory ....

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Purgatory is a Catholic doctrine of earning your way into heaven for the unrepentant by suffering. It isn't in the heavenly kingdom itself. It is rooted in a pagan doctrine of purification by fire, water and wind in the afterlife.

Scripture is clear that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth but then all eyes will be wiped of tears but that is after judgement is executed.

Mt 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mt 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mt 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

How many 'unprofitable servants' in the church that have salvation as 'fire insurance'? The 'outer darkness' isn't the lake of fire. The 'darkness' is actually 'dimness or shade', not a total absence of light while the glorious resurrected will shine like the stars.

Yahu_ said:

Scripture is clear that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth but then all eyes will be wiped of tears but that is after judgement is executed.

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I do not share your understanding of Matt 22. Those people were lost eternally.

Yahu_ said:

Purgatory is a Catholic doctrine of earning your way into heaven for the unrepentant by suffering.

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No it isn't.

Catechism of the Catholic Church said:

III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY
1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.608

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There's a huge confusion about doing works to earn your way to heaven and doing the work of discipleship. According to law there is no need to work, grace has accepted us. According to reward we have received the full salvation but may lose rewards according to our works thereby suffering loss. That's the only place that I see works coming into the picture.

Matthew 25:16
Immediately he who had received the five talents went and traded with them and gained another five.
Luke 19:20
And the other came, saying, Master, behold your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;
1 Corinthians 3:15
If anyone's work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may serve God well-pleasingly with piety and fear;
John 10:28-29
And I give to them eternal life, and they shall by no means perish forever, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand.

ETA Loss is in the enjoyment of the kingdom now, in the reign of Christ and perhaps in determining status in eternity.

Whitworth said:

So it has been my understanding that it is through faith alone that we are rewarded with Heaven and eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches us that it is through faith we are saved and by the Grace of God not through works or what we have and haven't done.

Yet here in Matthew 16:27 it's saying Christ will return and reward us based on our works and what we have done.

Can someone help me understand this? Am I missing something here?

Click to expand...

There are a number of other verses that also speak about being rewarded according to what we have done, such as Romans 2:6, Romans 14:10-12, Revelation 22:12, and 2 Corinthians 5:10. The issue is that there are two judgements, one according to our faith in regard to our justification, and one according to what we have done.