Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Look, we left everything and followed You. So what will there be for us?”
In this verse Peter speaks on behalf of the disciples, responding to Jesus’ words about wealth and the demand of following Him. He reminds Jesus that they left everything—family, fishing boats, means of livelihood—and followed Him. Now he asks, “What will there be for us?” that is, what compensation, reward, or inheritance will those receive who, by faith, have left everything. Peter’s question shows, on the one hand, sincere trust and self-sacrifice, but on the other hand, the natural human expectation that such sacrifice will have some outcome. It is as if he is saying, “If the rich man cannot be saved, and we have left everything, then what honor or reward awaits us?” This is not self-exaltation, but a heartfelt, plain question, with an awareness of God’s justice. Jesus not only does not rebuke him for this question, but in the next verse answers with love that following Him selflessly, on the condition of keeping nothing for oneself, always has a divine reward—not only in the future, but also in this life.